Dry. Hungry. Shriveled.
Climate change is no new concept that has been introduced to the world. Many around the world come to the conclusion that because climate change does not affect them, why should they care? However, it affects everyone in the world, especially poor countries in Latin America. Guatemala is one of these Latin countries, underprivileged and vulnerable. “Guatemala ranks ninth in the world for level of risk to the effects of climate change” (“Guatemala”). This country is not only a home for 16.86 million people but a prime example of the real current and future consequences of climate change in vulnerable countries. Climate change damages impoverished countries like Guatemala, affecting their agriculture, risk of food and water vulnerability, and increasing poverty. Guatemala’s agriculture is affected by climate change because it creates droughts and unpredictable weather, leaving communities without food or water. Guatemalan people know that the only source of income is through the crops they produce. “[T]he five leading crops [in Guatemala] are maize, coffee, sugarcane, beans, and natural rubber” (Castellanos et al.). Reports of droughts and strange weather patterns have been connected to farmers not being able to grow corn. An example of this is when Jesús García Ramos, a Guatemalan farmer, had been interviewed about his crops. In the article, it was said that “[r]ain patterns have been more unpredictable, and storms have been stronger”, which had been affecting Ramos with his crops when “[h]e had planted [his] corn in March. But then it didn't rain in June or July, the crucial months when kernels form on the cob” (Escarce). Ramos goes on to say that he was left with nothing when “a rare spring hailstorm shredded [his] corn plants” two years ago. Ramos’s experience with abnormal weather shows how it's not easy to grow crops. This also shows how the weather has been changing and it's been changing for the worst in Guatemala.
In another article talking about Guatemala, it was said that “[a]ssessments show that farmers lose, on average, 55% of their basic grain production during drought periods”(“Guatemala”). This is another example of how, when there's no constant weather pattern, many farmers lose their crops. Losing their crops means losing a way of income and food for their families. If there are no crops being produced then nothing will be exported to the countries that Guatemala has connections with. In another article published on Pulitzer Center, says that Problems trickle down, once agriculture is affected by climate change, Guatemala suffers. Jesús García Ramos is living proof of what it is like to struggle with droughts and unpredictable weather patterns in the fields. Not only is he an important example but a voice for others showing that climate change effects aren't easy to get through. The articles mentioned above provide the facts needed to assist Ramos’s experiences with climate change.
Not only do crops and agriculture get affected, but this means that Guatemala is at more risk of food and water shortages. The risk of food and water shortages increases in Guatemala because of low agricultural production, which is affected by climate change. The risk of not having enough food and water comes like a domino effect. Because Guatemala relies on agriculture for food, not having crops can risk their food supply. And, because agriculture is being affected, the citizens of Guatemala don't have anything to live off of. In a short video made by “World Food Program USA”, Magalí Ramírez, a 26 year old woman, explains how the drought has been affecting her and her family. She goes on to say that there is not enough water to collect, and all her crops dry out. She explains that everything changed in the span of 2 years. She keeps on explaining how she would plant 10 kilos of corn, and wouldn't be able to harvest most of her crops. Images show how the crops are dried out and Magalí continues to explain how this affects her family and the community. Magalí is just one of the thousands of families in Guatemala that are having a hard time being able to have enough food at home. Not only is this like a domino effect but, in an article made by reliefweb this year, explaining the data collected by IPC, not only are crops being affected but prices increase for those crops. Prices increase because there is no money to invest in the next harvest, and then merchants can't sell their products because of high fuel prices. Which then increases the prices of food which then increases unemployment. If there's no good harvest that season then they aren't able to export that product and make money.
Guatemalan people are persistent and that means that “[o]nce the harvest season passes, [Guatemalan citizens] begin the desperate search for odd jobs, such as washing their neighbors’ laundry or traveling long distances to sell household items in the city” ("Addressing Poverty"). Families are desperate to find income to support their families. Many even struggle to feed their children and they ask themselves if they should leave the country or see their children starve. These examples show how families in Guatemala are vulnerable to food and water shortages. Not only do these shortages affect Guatemala, but it increases the chances of families going into extreme poverty. Guatemalan families face extreme poverty in their lives because climate change affects their agriculture and food and water production. The population of Guatemala lives in poverty already, “[m]ore than half of Guatemala’s population lives in rural areas, and of that, 70 percent live in poverty”(“Guatemala”). However, numbers vary, for example in a 2021 report on Guatemala by the World Food Programme (WFP), states that “two-thirds of its population lives on less than USD2 per day, and among indigenous people, poverty averages 79 percent, with 40 percent living in extreme poverty”(World Food Programme). Not only is there a change between numbers, but it shows how quickly poverty numbers are rising in the indigenous community. Many families already are going through tough times, with inequality in claiming land and not having enough of it. Poverty often becomes a leach to these communities, creating a burden that they can't separate themselves from. In another report, NBC news goes to Guatemala and interviews local farmers. They explain how many are afraid that there isn't going to be enough food to feed their families. And, many consider immigrating to the US to have a better chance of living and feeding their families. This is one of the reasons why immigration to the US has skyrocketed, there's no other solution to these families' problems, other than leaving. These families leave their homes, memories, and even loved ones, just so they could have a chance at continuing their lives. Many children in Guatemala also suffer from malnutrition and a report made by ABC news, restating from the World Bank, says “Almost one million Guatemalan children suffer from chronic malnutrition or stunting” (ABC News).
These Guatemalan children don't deserve to starve or have to wait until a good season of harvests rolls around to have food. These families deserve help and enough food to have their children live on with their lives. There should be no children suffering from malnutrition and stunting because there's no food at home. Malnutrition, stunting, high immigration rates, no food or water, and no crops to sell, all these effects are on the Guatemalan population because of climate change. Guatemala is a beautiful country and a home for many families. However, the downside of these circumstances is that climate change has been affecting Guatemala. Their agriculture has been affected by droughts and strange weather conditions. Not only this, but their food and water production has lowered because there's so little to harvest. Because of this, poverty has risen in Guatemala, having many families raise the question if they should flee from their homes. “In recent years, the effects of climate change have further fueled migration” (Marcy and Tyson). Many families have no choice other than to leave their homes behind. People around the world have no right to judge these families, it's a live or die situation. These families either starve because they don't have enough food for a week or leave and start all over in a foreign country. Climate change affects everyone around the world, however, vulnerable countries like Guatemala are the first to help. Starting with baby steps to have a better future for all. Including everyone in the conversation about climate change is a big step to take. Anyone and everyone can start helping the world by starting the conversation and transitioning to a sustainable life. It can be small things, but everything counts.
Works Cited
"Addressing Poverty in Guatemala." Cross Catholic Outreach Blog, 27 Apr. 2020, crosscatholic.org/blogs/2020/04/addressing-poverty-in-guatemala/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
Castellanos, Edwin J., et al. "Climate change, agriculture, and adaptation options for Guatemala." International Food Policy Research Institute, Dec. 2018, www.ifpri.org/publication/climate-change-agriculture-and-adaptation-options-guatemala. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
Chang, Juju. "Flee or starve: How climate change is impacting Guatemala: Reporter's notebook." ABC News, 9 Nov. 2021, abcnews.go.com/International/flee-starve-climate-change-impacting-guatemala-reporters-notebook/story?id=81059330#:~:text=A%20change%20in%20the%20sub,and%20decades%20of%20dwindling%20yields. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
Chow, Denise, and Carlos P. Beltran. "Hungry and desperate: Climate change fuels a migration crisis in Guatemala." NBC News, 22 Sept. 2021, www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/hungry-desperate-climate-change-fuels-migration-crisis-guatemala-rcna2135. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
Escarce, Alissa. "In Guatemala, A Bad Year For Corn — And For U.S. Aid." npr.org, 30 Sept. 2019, www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/09/30/764349336/in-guatemala-a-bad-year-for-corn-and-for-u-s-aid. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
"Guatemala." Climate Change Knowledge Portal, climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/guatemala. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
"Guatemala: Acute Food Insecurity Snapshot l March 2022 - February 2023." reliefweb, 7 June 2022, reliefweb.int/report/guatemala/guatemala-acute-food-insecurity-snapshot-l-march-2022-february-2023#:~:text=In%20the%20latest%20IPC%20Acute,and%20therefore%20require%20urgent%20actions. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
"Guatemala - MagalÍ - Voices from the Frontlines of Climate Change." World Food Program USA, uploaded by World Food Program USA, 11 Sept. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfr6MwXauZ8. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
Marcy, Jessica, and Amelia Tyson. "Cultivating Resiliency: Confronting Climate Change and Migration in Guatemala." Pulitzer Center, 19 Apr. 2022, pulitzercenter.org/stories/cultivating-resiliency-confronting-climate-change-and-migration-guatemala#:~:text=Guatemala%20is%20part%20of%20the,people%20left%20because%20of%20drought. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
World Food Programme. "WFP Guatemala Country Brief." World Food Programme, July 2021, docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000131266/download/?_ga=2.255747726.746812659.1632179802-442606889.1632179802. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.
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