UN: Climate Crisis Threatens 41M in Caribbean, Latin America

Improve the News Foundation -
0:00
/1861

Facts

  • According to a report released by the UN Population Fund, 41M people in the low-lying coastal areas of the Caribbean and Latin America are at risk of 'life-threatening' weather events, such as storms and flooding, exacerbated by climate change.1
  • Based on satellite images and population estimates, the report identified the most vulnerable communities — including more than 1.4K vital hospitals in low-lying coastal districts.2
  • Previously, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season will likely be highly active due to elevated ocean temperatures and the weather phenomenon La Niña.3
  • The report comes as regional leaders meet in Antigua and Barbuda this week for a Small Island Developing States summit to discuss multiple issues, including climate change.4
  • Ahead of the summit, the conference president, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne urged rich nations to honor a pledge to give $100B a year to poorer countries per the 2015 Paris Agreement to help reduce emissions and mitigate extreme weather.4

Sources: 1United Nations Population Fund, 2Reuters, 3The Globe and Mail and 4Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by United Nations Population Fund. Climate change impacts the vulnerable the most, including poor nations, women, and marginalized communities, as is evidenced by this latest report on Latin America. They are the least responsible for the climate crisis but pay a hefty price for climate-related disasters. Wealthy countries, particularly the US, which emits the lion's share of greenhouse gases, must scale up investments to help secure their infrastructure and adapt to a changing climate.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Spectator (UK). The UN is a world leader and strategist of climate alarmism and has made terrifying the public a performative art form with ineffective policy outcomes. Putting the fear of misery and death into people doesn't spur action. If the UN truly wants to garner support and deliver, it must dial down the extremist language and provide factual, relevant, and digestible goals and paths forward.

Predictions