Add Latin America’s climate to Obama’s agenda

As if the president-elect didn’t have enough on his plate already, he needs to act now to prevent an environmental catastrophe in Latin America.

The World Bank released a report today on climate change in Latin America, warning of political and social risks if nothing is done to mitigate global warming.

First, climate change could lead to a massive decline in agricultural production. As report co-author John Nash told me, “you [could] have a huge crash in productivity; 30 to 80 percent of farms in Mexico would have to be abandoned.” The political implications are obvious, particularly in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, where farmers wield serious political and economic clout.

Changing water patterns could also threaten stability. “[That is something which has been] flagged as a flashpoint for conflict within countries and among countries,” says Nash.

Drug war, civil war, poverty, unrest, pollution? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

Since the impact of global warming is already hitting the region–shrinking glaciers and intensifying storms–action is something that just can’t wait, the report claims. The authors pin responsibility for action on Latin American countries–but even more on the world system and, yes, the United States.

Obama already has climate change on his agenda, but the stakes only seem to getting higher…

Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images