The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported significant increases in hunger and disease across Latin America, attributed to a year marked by unprecedented heatwaves, floods, and droughts. According to the WMO, Latin America sandwiched between unusually hot Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, likely endured tens of thousands of climate-related fatalities in 2023, along with at least $21 billion (approximately £17 billion) in economic losses, and experienced the most substantial nutritional deficit of any region globally.
The ongoing climate crisis, fueled by human-induced global warming coupled with natural phenomena like El Niño, continues to wreak havoc, with recent devastating floods in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, resulting in at least 95 deaths and extensive damage to farmland. This follows the hottest April on record globally, part of a larger trend that has seen global heat records shattered month after month for nearly a year.
The report highlights that Latin America and the Caribbean are among the hardest hit, with 13.8 million people currently facing severe food insecurity due to a combination of climate disasters and socioeconomic challenges. This situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the root causes and effects of climate change in the region. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: André Penner/AP