Extreme temperature fluctuations, peaking at approximately 5 degrees above normal in several states across Mexico, have sent alarm bells ringing in recent weeks. Climate scientists unanimously attribute these conditions to the progressing impact of global climate change.
“Climate Change Has Already Reached Us”
Dr. Francisco Estrada Porrúa, coordinator of the Climate Change Research Program (PINCC) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), underscored the global nature of the crisis, stating, “Climate change has already reached us.”
“Since the industrial era to the present, we’ve seen a 1.2-degree Celsius increase in temperatures. This places us on the threshold of the 1.5-degree mark, a scientifically defined threshold where the climate change impact becomes highly dangerous,” Estrada Porrúa clarified to Infobae México.
Record-Breaking Heatwaves and Fatalities
The 4th of July may have been one of the hottest days on Earth in approximately 125,000 years, a phenomenon likely augmented by a combination of the El Niño event and global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions from pollution.
The extreme heatwaves have had lethal implications, with 152 deaths attributed to the harsh temperatures from March to July 1. The victims, 141 succumbing to heatstroke and 11 to dehydration, were mostly from the states of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz, according to the Ministry of Health.
Heat Impact Accelerates in Mexico
Interestingly, Mexico’s warming rate outpaces the global average. “The country’s temperature has increased by 1.7 degrees Celsius since the start of the last century. It’s partly due to our geographical location. Some regions, especially in the North and northwest, have a warming rate of 6 degrees per century,” added Estrada, who also holds a PhD in Environmental Economics from the Free University of Amsterdam.
Climate Change’s Impact on Agriculture
Dr. Estrada’s research at the Institute of Atmosphere Sciences and Climate Change (ICAyCC) of the UNAM reveals that climate change is significantly impacting Mexico’s primary crops, including corn, wheat, beans, sorghum, soybeans, and sugarcane.
“Yields of these crops have fallen between 5% and 20%. If we continue on the current trajectory, some regions may see yield reductions of up to 80% by the end of the century,” he warns.
Approximately 27 million people in Mexico are reliant on temporary and consumer agriculture. With the current rate of climate change, only 11 of the 23 states that currently produce at least one ton per hectare of temporary corn will be able to maintain this output by the end of the century. The reduced production capacity will lead to increased food prices, affecting food access, consumption, and causing widespread crop losses.
The most affected crops include primary exports and consumables such as avocado, strawberry, and coffee. These yield losses could amount to a staggering $38 billion.
The Long-Term Economic Impact
“If we don’t take significant steps to mitigate climate change, its impact could be as severe as a 50% loss of the current GDP for the country. To put it in perspective, Covid cost us 8% of GDP in Mexico,” Estrada concluded, highlighting the scale of the impending crisis.
While the immediate consequences of climate change in Mexico are evident, the long-term effects promise even more catastrophic outcomes if action is not urgently taken. From the escalating heatwaves to the crop yield reductions and the health and economic implications, the scale of climate change’s impact on the country is an urgent call to action.
Extreme temperature fluctuations, peaking at approximately 5 degrees above normal in several states across Mexico, have sent alarm bells ringing in recent weeks. Climate . . .
