Lithuania is currently facing a severe drought, with toxic dust sweeping through the streets of the capital city, Vilnius, and parts of the country experiencing ash-covered ground, Euronews reports.
The scorching heat has turned grass yellow and caused leaves on trees to brown, leaving many residents alarmed. The country's Farmers' Union predicts that up to a third of crops will be lost, and with summer far from over, the situation remains dire.
The lack of rainfall is a crucial factor contributing to this complex environmental issue. Since April, Lithuania has seen only a few instances of rain, with the last substantial downpour occurring in mid-May. Gytis Valaika from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service explains that the average rainfall for May is typically 53mm, but this year it measured only 16mm, and in some areas, it was less than 10mm. The worst-hit region in western Lithuania, known for its arable land and livestock farming, has been coping with drought since early May.
Gabija Tamulaitytė, an environmental expert at the Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania, warns that farmers in Lithuania are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat because most of them lack irrigation systems, as they are not typically required. Along with Gabija’s warnings, Valaika also emphasizes that lower crop yields will lead to increased prices and possible social problems.
“Lower looming crop yields are expected to push up food prices and keep them higher throughout winter, raising the risk of "more social problems", adds Valaika.
Inflation in Lithuania already has one of the highest rates in Europe, with a significant increase in food prices observed last November. This ongoing drought will further contribute to the strain. The dry conditions in Vilnius and other areas have also led to the spread of dust contaminated with carbon particles and microplastics in the air, which poses health risks for residents. Tamulaitytė emphasizes the detrimental effects on respiration and overall well-being caused by this dust.
“It's not good for your respiration, your lungs, and for many things. This is going to get worse and worse” Tamulaitytė stated.
Valaika urges that while there is no immediate water scarcity problem, the rapidly changing climate necessitates action. Summers are becoming warmer and drier, winters are milder and less snowy, and heat waves are occurring more frequently. These extreme weather events demonstrate that climate change is real and that normal climatic conditions are becoming less common.
“These extremes show us that climate change is happening and normal climatic conditions are becoming less frequent,” Valaika noted.
Authorities in Lithuania and the European Union are taking action to tackle the phenomenon, with emissions falling 10% between 2005 and 2021, as per the European Parliamentary Research Service.
But Valaika claims it is nowhere near fast enough, urging people to also “do their part” and help the environment through private initiatives.
Global heatwave causes drought in Lithuania and Central Asia
Lithuania isn’t the only nation currently experiencing the consequences of climate change. The Aral Sea, once one of the world's largest lakes, has suffered catastrophic water loss since the 1960s. Its water volume has shrunk nearly tenfold, leading to severe ecological devastation in the region. Local communities, who previously relied on the lake for fishing, now face significant challenges. They are exposed to frequent sand and dust storms, which pose health risks to both humans and livestock.
The 3.5mn people who live in the region have seen their health, jobs, and living conditions literally go down the drain. The once thriving fishing and canning industry has evaporated, replaced by anemia, high infant and maternal mortality, and debilitating respiratory and intestinal ailments, UN stated in their report.
Aksoltan Töräýewna Ataýewa, Turkmenistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations made remarks concerning the sea.
"The lake was used for fishing and we could see sailing and fishing boats. "Now, we still can see them, but they are stuck in the sands," she stated.
To raise awareness of the Aral Sea situation, recently an athlete from Uzbekistan ran a marathon in hopes of drawing global attention to the dire environmental situation in the region and inspiring individuals to take action against climate change.
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