International
Water, one of the resources most impacted by climate change in Latin America
March 28 |
Water is at risk. Climate change has caused phenomena such as rising sea levels, droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures to affect the water cycle and water quality: an essential resource for living beings, food production, and the socioeconomic development of populations.
The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations (UN) states that due to the increase in extreme weather events resulting from global warming, water insecurity associated with climate will increase.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stresses that “between 2 and 3 billion people suffer water shortages for at least one month a year”. Figures that according to the institution will double “from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050”:
“It is said that by 2040 we are going to have such big droughts and so much lack of water that many nations and many populations are going to have to emigrate (…) We are definitely going to have land struggles, land where there is water, where there is drinking water,” Thais Lopez, the director of the Volo Foundation, a private organization that advocates fighting climate change and improving education and health, told Voice of America.
Against this backdrop, Lopez says that “the problems of the poorest countries are going to be exacerbated”.
Situation in Latin America:
According to the World Bank, Latin America has almost a third of the world’s water resources, representing the highest water endowment per capita. However, environmental conditions, exacerbated by climate change, have depleted reserves.
“This is very evident in Chile, Peru and northwestern Mexico, because these arid zones are becoming increasingly hotter and the availability of water is beginning to be a determining factor,” Rodolfo Lacy, Director of Climate Action and Environment for Latin America at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs at the United Nations, told the Voice of America.
Lacy also stresses that water scarcity is “directly linked” to food production. He explains that if measures are not taken, such as modifying agricultural activities in order to dose water, or implementing infrastructures to monitor climate conditions, food-producing regions, such as the Paraná basin in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, or the Bajío in Mexico, could be affected.
“Agricultural activities that in some way depend on high humidity will also be affected, because as humidity decreases in tropical regions, some super crops such as bananas or coffee will have less chance of being developed as we had been doing so far,” said Lacy.
Another factor that worries professionals is water quality.
Quality water may contain microorganisms and chemical substances that can cause diseases such as diarrhea or intoxication, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The institution highlights that approximately 7,600 children under 5 years of age die annually from diarrheal diseases in Latin America. The countries with the highest percentages of mortality due to diarrhea among the youngest children are Haiti (23%), Guatemala (10%), Bolivia (7%) and Venezuela (5%).
According to Rodolfo Lacy, aquatic contamination should be prevented through measures such as avoiding dumping waste in the water and reducing fertilizers.
“Water is sometimes used to dispose of all kinds of waste (…) We know very well the problem of plastics in bodies of water both on land and in the ocean, such as chemicals, for example, that dissolve in water (…) Some of them (are) very toxic to animal and plant life.”
The expert points out that the situation is especially complex in Latin America, where sometimes there is no adequate method in wastewater treatment systems.
“We are especially concerned about some ecosystems such as mangroves, which protect us from extreme hydro meteorological phenomena, such as hurricanes or rising seas (…) They can quickly disappear and that is what has happened,” he adds.
“It is said that we eat a card, the equivalent of a credit card, not only because of plastic packaging, because of everything we drink in plastic packaging, but because fish are consuming the plastic that is disposed of in our oceans,” explains Thais Lopez, of the Volo Foundation.
“It’s time to act”:
With the aim of organizing concrete actions related to water and sanitation around the world, the United Nations held a water conference March 22-24 in New York, the first such event in nearly 40 years.
Following the conference, it was proposed to appoint a special commissioner for water, and a multitude of non-binding agreements were drawn up to facilitate access to quality water and sanitation, such as the construction of toilets and the restoration of rivers and lakes damaged by human activity.
The organization’s Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, assured in his final speech that the proposals will be reviewed in July at high-level political meetings, and reiterated the importance of “committing to a common future”.
“There can be no sustainable development without water,” he said: “It is time to act”.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
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