Climate Change - Impacts of Global Warming

Climate change is already disrupting water supplies, food production, ecosystems, and coastal economies. The latest observations reinforce the need for rapid emission reductions, stronger adaptation, and an equitable transition to sustainable energy.

Latest global climate indicators

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by UNEP and WMO in 1988, assesses climate science and response options. Its Sixth Assessment Report provides the comprehensive scientific foundation used here. WMO observations and UNEP scenario assessments published in 2026 update the monitoring and policy context. [1–3]

Updated risks for Latin America and the Caribbean

WMO’s regional assessment of 2025, published in May 2026, documents damaging heat, drought, heavy rainfall, and tropical cyclones. Glacier retreat is increasing short-term flood hazards and long-term water-security risks. Ocean warming, acidification, and sea-level rise are adding pressure to coastal communities and fisheries. [4]

Freshwater and energy. Changes in rainfall and shrinking Andean glaciers alter the timing and reliability of water for drinking, cooking, agriculture, and hydropower. Both drought and extreme rainfall require better water management and resilient infrastructure. [4, 5]

Food security and agriculture. Heat, water stress, land degradation, and salinization threaten crops and livestock, with consequences for rural incomes and food access. Soybean responses vary by location, temperature, rainfall, CO₂ fertilization, and management. Potential gains in some temperate settings should not be generalized or assumed to offset heat and drought losses. [4, 5]

Amazon forests and biodiversity. Warming, drought, deforestation, and fire can interact to degrade forests and increase the risk of shifts toward drier, more open vegetation. Changes in semi-arid ecosystems also threaten species and ecosystem services. The timing and extent of Amazon transitions remain uncertain, so a uniform mid-century conversion to savanna should not be presented as an established forecast. [5, 6]

Coasts, reefs, and fisheries. Sea-level rise increases flooding and erosion risks in low-lying areas. Marine heat and acidification damage coral ecosystems, including Mesoamerican reefs, while changing ocean conditions can redistribute fish stocks in the southeastern Pacific. [4, 5]

The Paris Agreement and the current emissions gap

The Paris Agreement, adopted under the UNFCCC on December 12, 2015, seeks to hold warming well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. These remain the agreed goals. [7]

UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2026, released on October 21, examines a pathway that limits peak warming to approximately 1.7–1.8°C around mid-century and offers about a 50% chance of returning to 1.5°C or below by 2100. It requires global greenhouse gas cuts of 18% by 2030, 45% by 2035, and 69% by 2040, all relative to 2025. It also relies on substantial carbon dioxide removal and permanent storage, whose feasibility remains uncertain. These are scenario requirements, not adopted national targets or guaranteed outcomes. [3]

National pledges and existing policies remain insufficient for this pathway. Faster implementation can limit peak warming and the duration of overshoot, while reducing dependence on uncertain future carbon removal. [3]

Climate action and equitable development

Climate responses should respect, promote, and consider applicable human rights obligations, including health and development, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities, and people in vulnerable situations. Gender equality, women’s empowerment, and intergenerational equity remain essential. [7]

Universal access to sustainable energy, especially in developing countries and Africa, should advance alongside renewable energy deployment and resilient infrastructure. Regional and international cooperation must engage governments, civil society, businesses, financial institutions, cities, subnational authorities, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples. [7]

Early action can reduce future mitigation and adaptation costs. Practical priorities include dependable water and energy systems, climate-informed agriculture, ecosystem protection, and early warnings that reach exposed communities. The objective is to cut emissions while protecting livelihoods and strengthening long-term economic resilience. [1, 4]

References