Climate / Environment

By Olvin J. Abrego Ayala

Central America serves as a poignant example of environmental injustice. Despite its minimal contribution to global carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, the region bears a disproportionate impact of climate change. This disparity has resulted in significant environmental obstacles, such as droughts, pests, loss of biodiversity, depletion of resources, and food shortages. The Central America Dry Corridor (CADC) emerged as a meteorological term following the El Niño event in 2009, highlighting the severe consequences of extreme droughts in the region. This situation exacerbates pests and reduces yields for rural farmers. Coupled with natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, Central America is in a precarious state. These countries lack the infrastructure required to implement effective mitigation strategies. Similar challenges are faced by other nations in the Global South, including Bangladesh, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Palestine.