Normal temperature and humidity conditions could increase the incidence and severity of coffee rust, especially in the areas of Honduras, Guatemala, southern Mexico and Nicaragua.
The Climate and Agricultural Health Bulletin, by the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health, shows the outlook for the climate in the coming months, and details the impact that humidity and rainfall conditions could have on crops and agricultural activity in Central America.
A study by the Smithsonian Institute predicts that by 2050 the areas suitable for coffee cultivation in Latin America will have been reduced by 73-88%.
From a report by the Smithsonian Institute:
Areas in Latin America suitable for growing coffee face predicted declines of 73-88 percent by 2050. However, diversity in bee species may save the day, even if many species in cool highland regions are lost as the climate warms.
An increase has been foreseen in diseases affecting coffee crops in September and October, due to the transition of from severe drought to above normal rainfall.
From a statement issued by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture:
San Jose, September 12, 2016 (IICA).The transition from severe drought to rainfall above normal that occurred between 2014 and 2015 put Central American countries on alert, as they could face a surge in diseases affecting coffee crops, such as rust and 'ojo de gallo' in some areas of the region.
The identification of the complete sequence of the 22 chromosomes of Arabica coffee can be used as a basis for improving other coffee varieties and their adaptation to climate change.
From a statement issued by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB):
ARMENIA, Colombia - Today the complete sequence of the 22 chromosomes of coffee has been announced which aims to accelerate the process of selecting plants that respond to local climatic conditions and the specific needs of coffee farmers. The information available for public access, was announced to delegates from various coffee producing countries within the framework of the second regional workshop on climate change and coffee growing in the Conference of the Association for Science and Information on Coffee.
Projections are that Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua will register the largest deficit of rainfall in the region between August and October.
From a statement issued by the Regional Committee for Water Resources of the Central American Integration System:
XLII Central America Climate Forum
The rain deficit will continue to hit the Central American region in the next three months (August, September and October), concluded yesterday climatologists and meteorologists at the Climate Forum which took place in our country.
An IDB loan will support a new framework for reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change.
A press release of Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reads:
Panama will strengthen its risk management with the help of a U.S. $ 100 million Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan. The program will allow the country to develop a new framework for policy formulation, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, especially for the benefit of those most vulnerable to natural disasters.
The Inter-American Development Bank will open an office in Guatemala to process climate change topics in Central America.
The announcement was made by Juan Alberto Fuentes Knight, who added that “the environmental issue has grown in importance in the regional integration agenda and in each nation’s investment plans”.
Fuentes explained that the office will be located at IDB’s Guatemalan headquarters, and that they see this development as the first step of a substantial increase in IDB’s support for environmental topics.
WTO and UNEP launch a report explaining for the first time the connections between trade and climate change.
The WTO/UNEP report on “Trade and Climate Change” published today examines the intersections between trade and climate change from four perspectives: the science of climate change; economics; multilateral efforts to tackle climate change; and national climate change policies and their effect on trade.
WTO and UNEP launch a report explaining for the first time the connections between trade and climate change.
The WTO/UNEP report on “Trade and Climate Change” published today examines the intersections between trade and climate change from four perspectives: the science of climate change; economics; multilateral efforts to tackle climate change; and national climate change policies and their effect on trade.
The IDB will grant a $100 loan for the renovation and diversification of the Panamanian energy sector.
According to Mipunto.com, the press release from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), said: "Under the loan terms, Panama undertook to consolidate the energy sector's institutional capacity, including personnel training to adopt and implement consistent energy policies."
New report identifies hard landing for China, collapse in asset prices, gaps in global governance and climate change as key risks ahead
Sheana Tambourgi, Director and Head of the Global Risk Network at the World Economic Forum, said: “Global Risks 2009 builds on the work of previous years and highlights the need for concerted action to mitigate risks that now more than ever are global in their nature and in their impact, as illustrated by the financial crisis. But the same is true for other risk areas; global risks require a multistakeholder response and cannot be appropriately tackled in isolation.”
In Central America Costa Rica is at the top (with 48 in overall ranking), followed by Panama (62), El Salvador (103), Nicaragua (110), Honduras (115), and Guatemala (118).
The United Nations Program for Development published the 2007/2008 Human Development Report with the current ranking of countries under the banner of the general perspective of the fight against climate change: Solidarity in a divided world.
In times of economic crisis, the shift to a low-carbon economy is the smartest investment any country can make.
Achim Steiner, the eloquent executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), believes that Mexico could take a leadership role in the new "green" economy.
"UNEP wants to document new and creative efforts towards creating a prosperous green economy," said Steiner.