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
Lula Launches Re-Election Campaign Amid Rising Tensions With Trump
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to be officially nominated for re-election by his Workers’ Party (PT), marking the start of his campaign for a fourth presidential term.
The nomination takes place during the party’s national convention in São Paulo, Brazil’s economic hub, where around 3,000 supporters gathered to back the veteran leftist leader.
“Today I’m here because Lula’s policies changed my life and my family’s. Thanks to him, we finally own a home after eight generations without one,” said Cristiane Rosa Julho, a 51-year-old social worker attending the event dressed in the PT’s signature red.
Seeking the presidency for the seventh time in his political career, Lula is expected to face Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in next year’s election.
The 45-year-old senator is the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been jailed over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 election.
The party convention opened with videos highlighting Lula’s social initiatives and speeches by four women praising his leadership, while supporters waved PT flags and held signs reading “We Want Lula as President” and “Brazil Is Not for Sale.”
The campaign begins amid growing tensions with the United States and President Donald Trump, a close ally of the Bolsonaro family who has openly backed several conservative candidates across Latin America.
Last week, Lula warned against foreign interference, declaring, “In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.”
In July, the United States imposed two rounds of tariffs on Brazilian products, accusing the country of unfair trade practices. The measures followed earlier restrictions introduced in 2025, encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo Bolsonaro, in response to legal proceedings against the former president.
Lula has vowed to wage what he called a “war of truth against lies” in response to Washington’s pressure and accused Flávio Bolsonaro of undermining Brazil’s interests by allegedly helping the United States damage the country’s economy. The senator has denied the accusations.
The Brazilian president also claims Washington is attempting to influence the country’s political landscape in an effort to prevent his re-election.
International
Truck bomb attack near police station in Colombia leaves 14 injured ahead of presidential inauguration
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on Saturday near a police station in the Colombian city of Cúcuta, close to the Venezuelan border, leaving 14 people injured in an attack that occurred six days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s inauguration.
The blast took place in the early hours of the morning and was allegedly carried out by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), who detonated a vehicle packed with explosives. According to the latest report from the Colombian Army, the attack injured 11 police officers and three civilians.
The explosion involved around 15 explosive devices, and two of the wounded officers are in critical condition and “fighting for their lives,” said William Villamizar, governor of Norte de Santander, the region where the attack occurred.
The incident comes amid Colombia’s worst wave of violence in the past decade, with armed groups expanding their presence in several areas of the country.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cúcuta against our National Police. Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” De la Espriella said in a post on X.
The conservative lawyer, who has been described as a far-right figure, will take office on August 7, replacing Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president. The inauguration ceremony will be held in Cali, the country’s third-largest city and a frequent target of attacks by armed groups.
The United Nations condemned what it described as an “indiscriminate attack” that caused not only injuries but also “fear and distress among the population.”
De la Espriella has repeatedly warned about an alleged plot against his life. Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro, who is currently visiting Cuba, has not commented on the attack. During his visit, Petro met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss what Havana describes as the United States’ “policy of suffocation” toward the island.
International
EU Faces Migration Crisis After 60,000 Migrants Arrive in Spain’s Ceuta Enclave
The arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain’s Ceuta enclave triggered a major European Union crisis on Friday, after Madrid described the situation as an “attack” on its territorial integrity.
At least 34 people died while attempting to reach the Spanish territory, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of migrants had begun arriving in Ceuta earlier in the week, either by swimming across the border or climbing security fences. Most of those who entered were young men and teenagers.
However, the situation escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, when the number of arrivals surged within a few hours, reaching nearly 60,000 people. According to the Spanish government, the vast majority of them — around 48,000 migrants — had returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
The episode represents one of the most serious migration crises faced by the autonomous city of Ceuta, which has a population of around 84,000 residents, in recent years.
Several European countries responded strongly to the crisis, with Italy announcing the temporary suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, a measure supported by Finland and Denmark.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a post on X.
Italy’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the country had tightened controls on maritime and air entry points from Spain, but clarified that the measure would not affect Spanish or European citizens traveling to Italy.
The additional checks will specifically target non-European citizens arriving from Spain, according to the ministry.
The measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday, authorities said.
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to the Italian announcement through a statement on X, as European governments continued discussions over the consequences of the migration crisis.
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