Research Questions/Intro
Climate change is a hot-button issue, not only in America but globally. Many people do not believe that it is even an issue, but the carbon output makes a difference. Cities are the lifeblood of every nation, the hub of culture, and the heart of a country; but how are they affecting the environment on a global scale? This research kit focuses on Latin American cities to learn how they are adapting to changes. Climate change is impacting Latin American cities, and this kit will explore the cities that have made changes and the practices that have made the greatest impact.
Narrative/Overview
Through research, it is easy to come across many different interesting ideas on climate change as a whole, but when specifically looking into Latin American countries, the statistic surrounding these countries was surprising. While these countries are a small subsection, and none are considered a global superpower, they contribute a large number of greenhouse gases. Especially in cities like Bogotá, Colombia, and Santiago, Chilé. Issues impact many cities around the globe, but especially those in Latin America.
Greenhouse gases are caused by many different types of pollution but mainly stem from the use of fossil fuels. While there are alternatives for these fuels, they are not economically reachable for many of these countries. These countries are already suffering financially and cannot afford any changes. Cities are expediting this problem further, while they are natural hubs for life and culture, and with that come a large drain on energy and resources. With all the people in one enclosed area, there is a lot of energy being used. This causes the cities to mainly use fossil fuels.
Climate change impacts the world in many ways, monsoons, hurricanes, heat, and other environmental issues. These normally are not considered issues unless you are in one of these areas. Most of the largest suppliers of climate change will never actually have to deal with the consequences. This is not the case for many Latin American countries. They have to deal with the environmental impacts, and this causes more issues of trying to rebuild where you can and allocating money there instead of trying to fix the cause.
One city that stands out amongst the crowd in Lima, Peru. Them being a third-world nation, they are often at the bottom of the barrel. They have been hit week after week by different environmental catastrophes, but they also are one of the largest contributors to climate change. Because fossil fuels are the cheapest way to obtain fuel, and the country needs cheaper options, they are only using them. This creates such a large amount of greenhouse gases, that only come back to hurt the country.
Climate change has more effects than large storms. They also cause holes in the ozone and alter the climate drastically. Through all of this, many Latin American cities have expanded and urbanized their areas. Lima, Peru is constantly expanding and has problems containing all the people. Because of the environmental issues they have, water is a scarce resource. Even the water available may be contaminated or unsafe.
Sustainable water is one of the many resources that people are trying to work to make sure is accessible worldwide. There is a need for better sanitation rights, more space for people, and drinkable water. Without clean water, many turn to plastic water bottles, which in turn causes more climate problems. The use of plastic in Latin American cities is high because of the lack of sustainable water.
Another issue begins at the start of these cities. As with most growing nations, there are not many naturally growing green spaces. These areas are the best way to combat greenhouse gases and without them, these countries do not stand a chance. This is one of the hardest things to retroactively fix, as there is already a problem with overpopulation and a lack of space. Most young nations do not account for climate change when building cities, and by now most lack the resources to fix them. However, the cities that have the least resources are the ones that have been impacted the most.
These band-aid corrections are causing more issues than solving them, but financially countries are not doing what needs to be done. The money that is being allocated will not be used to enact long-term change, but instead, fix the immediate problem. This furthers the problem, and leaders must attempt to break out of the cycle. As a subsection of the world that is at the center of environmental issues, these countries do not have the resources or leadership to enact change and need a different, cost-effective approach.
Cities in Latin America such as Bogotá and Santiago decided to focus on transportation. Many of the carbon emissions come from the sheer number of cars driving on the road. In order to enact change, cities are transforming the public transportation systems. They are pushing bus using by allocating more money for publicity and fixing run-down vehicles. Bike lanes are being adapted to take over more of the road, minimizing space for cars. Both of these methods are relatively low-cost and minimize the use of gasoline and other fossil fuels.
Other Latin American countries are taking a different approach, opening green spaces for the community to gather in. Not only does this aid in climate change, but also helps the community’s health. Green spaces have popped up in cities like Bogotá, Colombia but are not as easily put together as expected. A lot of time and money goes into creating adequate spaces, which are more costly than most countries can handle, but still not as costly as other choices.
Other options are much more big tickets and would take more money, such as switching to solar or wind energy. Building a green space in the community is another way to capitalize on the community’s growth as well as minimize damage. While this would be an expensive undertaking, it is also one that yields the best results. It would be a cultural hub, where the community can thrive. It aids in environmental issues the country may have, and with more finances, could eliminate the use of fossil fuels entirely.
After Hurricane Katrina, the United States had to rebuild New Orleans from the ground up. The same happens in these cities, they are hit hard and need a complete rebuild. This results in attempting to aid areas in the cities that are like sinking ships, placing corrections on problem areas while other problems arise. Since they do not have the finances to fix certain areas before they happen, it is important to brainstorm cost-effective solutions to prevent environmental impacts on the cities.
The most cost-effective ideas from others do not normally come from the government at all but from members of the community. Many community leaders have chosen to take over old, abandoned buildings to create green spaces in the already existing architecture. Members of the community are also trying to take matters into their own hands by using other sources of energy, and placing solar panels where they can. Not every person in these cities makes this kind of sacrifice. Many have also been hit by horrible storms and cannot afford to make any changes.
Latin American countries have been making adaptable changes, in many ways but are still suffering under climate change. The fight for sustainable water and better resources is one that we’ll be fighting for generations. The issue with climate change in Latin America is these countries are the ones being hit the hardest and therefore don’t have the resources to keep themselves up. Because of this, nations with more resources, need to pick up where they left off and work hard to fix what is broken. Latin American countries are suffering the most when it comes to climate change, and still working to enact change.
Primary Sources Annotated Bibliography
Author links open overlay panel Martha G.BellEnvelope, et al. “Overlooked Legacies: Climate Vulnerability and Risk as Incrementally Constructed in the Municipal Drinking Water System of Lima, Peru (1578–2017).” Geoforum, Pergamon, 5 Mar. 2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016718521000609.
Lima Peru has a large problem with over expansion, and usage of resources. Because of their location they are in constant state of panic based on frequent environmental issues. But the hardest issues they have is the lack of clean sanitation and water. Most of the water they obtain is from the environmental catastrophizes that they hit.
Are We Missing the Point? Particularities of Urbanization … https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956247807076915.
Most Latin American cities are high in gas emissions, and they do not have the ability to have technological approaches to this problem. High income nations are at fault; however, they don’t share in these consequences to these actions. Latin American cities need support from bigger nations in order to enact change. Ecological modernization is not the appropriate framework for addressing these problems, they need more money.
Person. “Multilevel Governance and Institutional Capacity for Climate Change Re.” Taylor & Francis, Taylor & Francis, 20 Feb. 2015, https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315772981-18/multilevel-governance-institutional-capacity-climate-change-responses-latin-american-cities-patricia-romero-lankao-jorgelina-hardoy.
Mitigation and adaptation are goals and often pushed by governments, but they are hard to enact. Latin American countries are often missing adaptation polices, so they conducted research themselves looking into cities that had acted and how they were able to do so. A response in this article refers to any action taken by a government, private, or civil societies in response to the problem at hand. Main barriers are lack of human and financial resources. making decisions and enhancing community participation is the best way to aid this problem.
Secondary Sources Annotated Bibliography
Author links open overlay panelJorgelinaHardoy1EnvelopePatriciaRomero Lankao2, et al. “Latin American Cities and Climate Change: Challenges and Options to Mitigation and Adaptation Responses.” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Elsevier, 16 Feb. 2011, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1877343511000078.
This article’s main ideas can be summed up into a couple points. First of all Latin American countries are a large ongoing source of greenhouse gases, and a hotspot for environmental issues. The issue that they are finding is that it is hard to support on the local level financially, as it includes the poor people’s statistics. they are looking to distribute the wealth around in order to aid this problem.
Becerra, Janeth Mosquera, et al. “Transport and Health: A Look at Three Latin American Cities.” Cadernos De Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional De Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 1 Apr. 2013, https://www.scielo.br/j/csp/a/8hz3Kv6pbdPkwcJX4KD5gNN/abstract/?lang=en.
Transportation is the main issue in climate change according to this article. Many have promoted public transportation and used bikes as an alternative. They were able to explore how big cities have enacted these changes and what that was like moving forward as a city. Not only does this affect public health but it also affects carbon use.
Vásquez, Alexis, et al. “Green Infrastructure Planning to Tackle Climate Change in Latin American Cities.” SpringerLink, Springer International Publishing, 1 Jan. 1970, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-97013-4_13.
“The urbanization process has involved a loss of these green spaces of high environmental value. These changes have had a series of consequences on the climate of Latin American cities that have been intensified by climate change.” the urbanization process has involved a lot of tearing down of green spaces that have a lot of environmental value which has problems on the climate in Latin American cities. This article was also able to explore acts created to make more of a difference, but they need to be more prepared for the consequences by planning more green areas within the cities.
Glossary
- Climate change
- “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) which produces heat-trapping gases”
- Carbon emissions
- “Emissions stemming from the burning of fossil fuels and the manufacture of cement; they include carbon dioxide produced during consumption of solid, liquid, and gas fuels as well as gas flaring”
- Greenhouse Gasses
- “A gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.”
- Green Spaces
- “An area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes in an otherwise urban environment”
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