Climate change is one of the most important challenges of humankind in this century. The ability to adapt, mitigate and reduce carbon emissions will be decisive to preserve the world for future generations. The last IPCC report has provided more evidence regarding the rise in temperature and sea level. Apparently, additional 2°C above the pre-industrial average temperature levels is unavoidable, and it will continue at that level due the accumulation of gases in the atmosphere (Solomon 2009). Climate change will affect people all around the world in different ways, though the capacity to cope with it is different among regions and countries. The Latin America region is notably susceptible to climate change, due its geographical position, population location and its economy relying in natural resources (Vergara et. al. 2013a). The withdrawal of the coral biome, glaciers melting, jungles & forest savannization and strongest climate events are only some of the threats that will affect their inhabitants.
According to expert’s estimations, the economic cost associated with climate change events in Latin America with a temperature rise of 2°C, is in the order of 85-110 billion per year by 2050 (Fernandes et. al. 2012, Dasgupta et. al. 2007, Vergara et. al. 2013 & Vergara et. al. 2007). Economic injuries of this magnitude, can erode the development path of countries like Colombia and Mexico . The restriction to natural resources access will undermine countries´ prospects for
Brazil is one of the largest Latin American nations in South America and include the largest human census in the region and its well-known that it has a strong economy and it is a mine of natural resources and relies heavily on agriculture and cattle breeding, and that the problem of climate change is no doubt that they negatively affect the development of Brazil and make them in stature do not agree on the negative ways to solve the problem cannot be undone. And that this is a big problem effects on agriculture in southern Brazil this problem and lead to high temperatures and low agricultural productivity and this requires a major effort from the government and farmers. Brazil's position on the problem of climate change is clear and is certainly open to new agreements
During the past several hundred years, civilization has made rapid progress in industries like air travel, automobiles, and energy production. These developments were made without consideration of the long-term effects that their emissions may have on the planet. Changing weather patterns are now wreaking havoc around the world, and scientists attribute this to human-caused climate change. During President Obama’s State of the Union address in 2015, he stated that, “No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change,” (“Remarks by the President”). Warming temperatures caused by anthropogenic climate change have disastrous consequences that pose a threat to humanity and the environment.
The environment around us carries the scar caused by global warming. Precipitation has increased across the globe, which has consequently caused more frequent floods, an increase in sea levels, and a higher frequency of strong storms. Lakes are drying up, islands are virtually dropping into the ocean, and the polar ice caps are disappearing. The planet is truly in peril. This paper will focus on three regions of the Earth in particular: Antarctica, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef. More specifically, it will examine the extent of the impact that global warming has had on each region..
In the words of Barack Obama, “climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now.” (J. S. World Economic Forum, 2015) This global phenomenon is causing many problems around the world and is affecting both developed countries like Canada and other countries in the process of developing. This report investigates how climate change can pose significant impacts on all countries despite economic stability. Places like Canada are affected by the severe storms and drastic changes in weather and these changes can hurt the environment and the economy. They can also pose threats to crop production and public health. Climate change can also hurt the developmental progression of low-income countries
“Flooding between 2006 and 2008 affected over 1 million people in a region where 32% of people live in poverty and are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards”(Climate) as well as endangering many rare species of animals and plants that are at risk of extinction. The increase in temperature has also led to health implications, such as mosquitos evolving to in heights of up to 2600 meters, leading to a higher risk of contracting diseases (Climate). Food insecurity of the main long-term issue for the Republic of Bolivia. The changing temperatures and overall unrealiability of the climate has had significant effects on the crop harvest of Bolivia, effecting “small producers and subsistence farmers” (Climate) the most, as the climate varies from region to region. In 2010, “sudden drops in temperature and drought resulted in the death of livestock and reduction of crops which affected 21,000 families in the Amazon departments” (Climate) and in 2011, climate instability caused the Quinoa harvest of Bolivia to drop by 50% compared to the previous year (Climate). Food instability is also attributed to the pollution and contamination of its main water sources by unregulated industrialization in the 1980s that has accumulated there throughout the year and poisons the water sources used by the people to drink, water their crops, and water their animals (Lake). In the midst of all this adversity, the people of Bolivia have learned to cope my migrating as “a way of sourcing
Due to the immense anthropogenic release of green house carbon emissions into the atmosphere, there has been and will be major detrimental effects on human resources and the ecosystem. For example, by the middle of the 21stcentury, River runoff will increase by 40% in northern latitudes and also in a few tropical areas, while in dry regions it will decrease by 30%. Some of these tropical areas have already reported and are experiencing water droughts that will only get worse (Gillman 2008). In addition, if temperatures continue to increase to 1.8-5.4 degrees, food productivity and resources will be affected. When the temperatures reach the lower latitudes of what is predicted, there will be a slight increase in food productivity for a little while. However, when the temperatures reach the higher end of the latitudes, food productivity will
When you hear the words “climate change” what comes to mind? Probably weather and the changes. Many of us watch the news or use an app on our cellphones/electronic devices to keep an eye on the weather for the day, week, or even the month. But, there is actually a difference between weather and climate. Weather is actually “the changes we see and feel outside from day to day. It might rain one day and be sunny the next. Weather also changes from place to place” (Dunbar, 2014). Whereas “climate is the usual weather of a place. Climate can be different for different seasons. Different places can have different climates” (Dunbar, 2014). This paper will focus on the ins and outs of climate change, specifically focusing on what climate change
Global warming is defined as the recent increase in the world 's temperature that is believed to be caused by the increase of certain gases (such as carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere. There are many different theories on whether global warming is similar or not to climate change. Simplistically, climate change is different because climate change is defined as a change in global or regional climate patterns or, in particular, a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels, having been measured over long periods of time, due to the changes in Earth’s orbit and organic carbon which reflect sunlight. Global warming and climate change are not to be confused because global warming is caused mainly by anthropogenic factors like the emission of carbon dioxide gas and use of fossil fuels whereas climate change is completely natural, however, according to Milan Radovanovic, “it is clear that the anthropogenic factors dominate the increasing temperature and the natural ones have the maximum influence…” (Radovanovic). Therefore, “the contribution to global warming from natural forcings and from natural internal variability is in the range between -0.2 to 0.2 [degrees] celsius over the period 1951-2010…” (Radovanovic). Natural factors have had the most effect on global temperature in the past 59 years totaling a 0.4 degrees celsius increase in
When it comes to climate change directly caused by humans, the Central American country of Guatemala is a prime example. With a population of over 16 million, spread over the course of only 42,000 square miles -- mostly in and around the capital of Guatemala City -- there is plenty being done directly and indirectly to negatively affect climate. But it’s not just civilian’s actions that leave it susceptible to climate change, as location and deforestation also conspire to make the country’s inhabitants more vulnerable to dire conditions, with indigenous communities and farmers among the most affected.
The concept of climate change has been around for quite a while. The earliest mention of climate change dates back to the 19th century. Swedish scientist, Svante Archenius was the first scientist to study the effect of CO2 on climate. (Rodhe et al 1997)
In this article it talked about the climate changes in latin america. Some of this changes include, the sea level rise, the rainfall pattern, melting glaciers, agricultural regions, and the development of diseases. All of these changes are happening in Latin America. It also talk about what latin america has.
Climate change has been called “the biggest problem of the 21st century” by many scientists and government officials alike. Many classes at the university level cover some aspect of this complex and multifaceted problem. From the human rights that are at risk due to rising sea levels and food shortages to the environmental, geographical, and intergenerational inequities resulting from increasing greenhouse gas emissions; climate change is a serious and complex issue with little agreement on how to solve it. In this paper, I will analyze the impacts of climate change in the country that contributes most to the problem:
Climate change looms large over our rapidly growing and continually changing world. No longer are the adverse effects of this menacing global issue a mere ominous projections, they are starting to become a very concrete reality. Countries are today experiencing rising sea levels, which compromises coastal infrastructure, prolonged drought, squeezing food supply and agricultural productivity, as well as extreme storms. Rising temperatures have already led to vast reductions in the size of the Arctic. There is now no doubt amongst scientists that anthropogenic activity has been the primary catalyst to the
One of the biggest economic challenges in the United States today is climate change. Climate change effects all sectors of the economic, however, most especially agriculture, energy, and transportation are more likely to be effected (EPA, 2016). Thereby, all of society is highly dependent on the stability in the environment to carry out all of life processes. A shift in the normal range of conditions can impact people and areas that are more vulnerable to coastal storms, and drought. For example, some of the effects of climate change in the Northeast region of the United States are “heat waves, heavy downpours and sea level rise pose growing challenges to many aspects of life in the Northeast” (NASA, n.d.). Thereby, increasingly compromising the agriculture, fisheries and ecosystems in the Northeast region of the United States.
Global warming is a major issue in Cuba. Global warming affects Cuba’s climate in many ways. Sea level rise, lack of food, and loss of biodiversity are the three main issues Cuba faces. If we continue to let the environment deteriorate,