Introduction
The most challenging issue of our time is Climate Change. The menace has been recognized globally as one of the most life-threatening issue in the present and future. Though climate change is expected to affect the populace adversely in the future, already its effects are being felt in the world. Climate change is the expression of changes in environmental temperature as well as the water cycle, increase in drought and flooding occurrences, extreme heat waves and rise in sea level (Wired, 2018). These changes result in hazards such as lack of clean drinking water, poor sanitary facilities, indoor and outdoor air pollution, and vector-borne diseases among others. Therefore, this paper discusses the leading climate changes and how they are affecting Mexico.
Climate change in Mexico
When Mexico is mentioned, everyone pictures the amazing Sierra Madres and the incredible Rio Grande. For ages, these regions were known to be the habitat for the Toltec, Aztec, and Mayan people. For instance, great painters such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo were born here. However now, the change in climate is altering the country’s atmosphere, topography, as well as the future. According to Arnold Kramer, Mexico City’s chief resiliency officer, climate change remains the long-term threat to the city’s future (The Climate Reality Project, 2018) . This is simply because climate change is linked to several aspects such as water, air pollution, health, floods that disrupt traffic, and vulnerability from landslides.
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Heat
According to statistical data, Mexico is increasingly getting warmer since the 1960s. Actually, the annual temperatures for Northern Mexico are anticipated to increase by three to four degrees (The Climate Reality Project, 2018) . The rest of the country’s annual temperatures are also anticipated to increase by approximately two degrees. The temperatures changes seem small, but it has a huge impact. For example, the difference between ice and water is a single degree. This implies that even though the change is small to the eye, its effects on our environment are adverse. Therefore, as the temperatures of Mexico and the entire world are increasing, the effects of climate changes can be seen in the rise of sea-level, increased periods of wildfires seasons as well as devastating droughts.
Drought and water security
Some centuries back, Mexico was known for the enormous lakes. But Nowadays, the water used in the city is pumped from deep underground or other remote sources (Herron, 2013). Actually, approximately forty percent of the City’s water is pumped from other remote sources. Though not the only factor, climate change plays a huge part in the issue of water shortage and insecurity. Water insecurity leads to food insecurity thus making the situation worse. Approximately 1.7 million animal die of thirst or starvation, and another 2.2 million acres of crops wither over five states (The Climate Reality Project, 2018) .
Due to constant emission of greenhouse gases to the environment, the gas traps more heat causing the atmospheric temperature to increase. The temperature increase causes evaporation from land and other water bodies. Additionally, the warmer temperatures increase the evaporation in the soil thus affecting plant life and reducing rainfall thus causing drought.
Agriculture
Climate change has caused to decrease in the amount of produce in Mexico by rendering most of the land unsuitable for agriculture. Statistics indicate that by 2030, forty to seventy percent of Mexico’s cropland will be unsuitable for farming (The Climate Reality Project, 2018) . The projections indicate that eighty to a hundred percent may decline due to climate change. This causes alarm since it may lead to malnourishment, displacement and ultimate death out of hunger.
Conclusion
Climate change is a life-threatening occurrence in Mexico and the world. Its effects in Mexico include an increase in annual temperature that has increased evaporation. Additionally, millions of Mexicans are at risk of water insecurity and drought since water supply is already strained. Lastly, arable farming in Mexico is being affected by the lack of water. These has led to a decline in agriculture thus causing food insecurity
References
Herron, C. (2013). Water and Climate Change in Mexico 2007-2012 Analysis and Future Recommendations. Retrieved from https://www.gwp.org/globalassets/global/toolbox/references/water-and-climate-change-in-mexico-2007-2012.-analysis-and-future-recommendations-conaguapremia-2013-english.pdf
The Climate Reality Project. (2018). How Is Climate Change Affecting Mexico?. Retrieved from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/how-climate-change-affecting-mexico
Wired. (2018). What is climate change? The definition, causes and effects. Retrieved from https://www.wired.co.uk/article/what-is-climate-change-definition-causes-effects
