Abstract: Due to abnormal atmospheric circulation, the high temperature and drought in the Changjiang River Basin (CRB) in the summer of 2022 lasted for a long time, affected a wide range of area and caused severe disasters. We scrutinized the drought disaster events in the CRB over the past 15 years and the characteristics of the 2022 drought. We also analyzed the current status of the construction of drought mitigation system in the CRB and its effectiveness in response to the 2022 drought. On this basis, we present an overall response roadmap for drought mitigation under new circumstances: 1) optimize the spatial layout of national land use to avoid drought disaster risks from the source; 2) prevent and control drought disasters in their processes through regulating spatial storage in ground surface, soil, and underground and impounding at flood peak for replenishment at drought; 3) optimize the operation and scheduling of water conservancy projects to coordinate flood control and drought resistance. Additionally, we present the scientific and technological needs for drought mitigation in three key aspects: drought assessment and prediction, drought risk research and judgment, and drought risk response.

Key words: drought, drought mitigation and disster reduction, drought response, Changjiang River Basin