Seven Effects of Climate Change in Central America

• Less rain and higher temperatures
  • Anticipated reductions in rainfall pose a significant threat, leading to potential crises in agriculture and access to drinking water. The region has experienced a notable temperature increase of 1.2ºC (34.7 ºF), intensifying the water demand. This challenge increases with higher maximum and minimum temperatures, along with more days exceeding 40ºC (104 ºF). Nights are also getting warmer.
• Weather-related extreme events

  • Central America is experiencing an escalation in the frequency and intensity of weather-related extreme events due to climate change. Hurricanes, floods, and droughts are becoming more severe, posing a direct threat to food security. These events not only lead to the destruction of harvests but also result in damage to farming soil.

Silverio Méndez is a farmer from Chiquimula, Guatemala. Over the past years, he and his family have been affected by long drought seasons that forced them to find new ways of getting by. Photo by Julian Spath/CRS.

• Unpredictable climate patterns and drought

  • Central America largely relies on subsistence farming. Unpredictable climate patterns and drought, aggravated by climate change, will make the growth of basic foods like maize and beans harder. As a result, food security in the region and the livelihoods of rural communities will be threatened.

• Displacement and social conflict

  • Natural disasters and food insecurity are causing people to migrate, both within countries and outside the region, mainly to the U.S. Water scarcity and the higher cost of water will cause social conflict, mainly affecting the most vulnerable and poorest populations. 

Porfirio and Cristina used to support their household with the income they made from their crops. But when intense drought started to impact their harvests, the couple was forced to go off their farm to find work. Photo by Philip Laubner/CRS.

• Biodiversity at risk

  • Central America is a region rich in biodiversity, with many plant and animal species native to the region. Climate change threatens this biodiversity by altering ecosystems, making specific habitats inappropriate for the species living in them. 

• Health impact

  • The climate crisis may also have an impact on public health. For example, rising temperatures may cause an increase in mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and Zika.

• Economic impact

  • All of the above impacts of climate change will have consequences for the economy:

    • Governments must spend more resources to respond to natural disasters.

    • People lose their livelihoods.

    • The resulting uncertainty can discourage investment.

A climate change adaptation approach is necessary to mitigate these effects, including diversification of the economy, implementation of climate-resilient agriculture techniques, and improvement of infrastructure to better deal with natural disasters.

What is the Dry Corridor?

The Central America Dry Corridor is known for its long periods of drought and unpredictable climate patterns. It stretches from Mexico to Costa Rica and crosses through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

This region has short and irregular rain and long dry seasons. Climate change has worsened these conditions, making this area highly vulnerable to extreme climate events, such as extended drought and flooding. 

The Dry Corridor is a region of entrenched poverty with many rural families trying to make a living from subsistence farming where maize and beans are the main crops. 

What is the current situation of the Dry Corridor?

The situation in Dry Corridor is critical. The lives of thousands of people are at risk. Unpredictable and extreme weather events have made agriculture more difficult and contribute to food insecurity and malnutrition.

• Approximately 500,000 people suffer from severe food insecurity, especially in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
• 65% of families in the Dry Corridor do not have any food reserves. To survive, they chose to migrate to urban areas, reduce the portions and frequency of the food they consume, buy cheaper and less varied food, sell their livestock, and resort to taking out loans.
• The permanent drought situation in the Dry Corridor has reduced the region's water supply, making proper hygiene difficult. The absence of basic sanitation can lead to digestive problems and severe malnutrition.
• Due to the lack of economic opportunities, many people from this area are forced to migrate, often to more prosperous regions of Central America or the United States.

Which are the most affected populations?

The climate crisis disproportionately impacts specific populations of the Dry Corridor. These groups lack the necessary resources and support to adapt:

• Rural communities
  • Rural communities usually have reduced access to essential drinking water, medical care, and education services. These communities typically rely on agriculture and need to be able to adapt to climate change.
• Subsistence agriculture
  • Subsistence farmers depend on crops such as maize and beans to feed their families and generate income. However, extended drought periods and unpredictable rains are making it increasingly challenging to grow these primary crops.
• Indigenous populations
  • Indigenous populations often live in marginalized communities and face challenges such as discrimination and lack of access to essential services. This makes them especially vulnerable to climate change.
• Women
  • Women are usually responsible for collecting water and food for their families. Climate change can make these tasks more challenging, and women often have to work harder to ensure family survival. Women need more access to education and economic resources to better adapt to climate change.
• Children and the elderly
  • Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis. Children can suffer from malnutrition and diseases when families cannot grow enough food. The elderly can be more vulnerable to heat-related sickness. And water-borne illnesses. 

Which crops are at risk?

Climate change threatens vital crops in Central America, many of which are essential for the region's economy or are part of the basic diet of its population. 

Coffee, maize, beans, plantain and banana, cocoa, and rice are at risk due to rising temperatures, extended drought, water shortages, and natural disasters.

Maize of different colors is becoming extinct. Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS.

How does CRS help farmers adapt to climate change?

In Central America, CRS works with small farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices that will help them adapt to climate change.

Using the Water Smart Agriculture (WSA) program, we are facilitating access to more than 100,000 farmers in Central America and Mexico to soil restoration and water protection practices that enable them to grow more resilient crops while increasing their production and income.

How can you help?

You can help the communities most affected by climate change in Central America to adapt and thrive.

Sign a petition demanding the U.S. Congress provide adequate funding to support the communities most affected by climate change.