Guatemala High on Climate Change List

With the United Nations Climate Change Talks going on in Copenhagen this week, the news has been saturated with articles and programs about climate change and its potential impacts. A recent article in The Prensa Libre, Guatemala’s national daily, blared “Guatemala está en riesgo por cambio climático,” or “Guatemala at Risk for Climate Change” (link in Spanish).

According to the United Nations, Guatemala is among the top ten countries that could be affected most by extreme weather caused by climate change. Afghanistan, Macedonia, Armenia, Belize, Cambodia, The Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Comoros along with Guatemala are the countries most threatened by hurricanes, droughts, floods and elevated temperatures.

Articles from the Minnesota Post and Guardian, cite that coffee farmers are already being forced to higher altitudes to find the temperatures necessary for cultivating coffee. (Please read “Climate change causing havoc to coffee and tea farmers, says Cafédirect” The Guardian and “Will coffee prices climb with climate change?” The Minnesota Post)

Around the world there will be millions of families affected by increasingly extreme weather patterns and the discussion of sustainability will likely change from simply providing a fair price to how to ensure that families have a way to survive. Coffee Kids is working to provide alternatives that provide for more consistent year round income. The programs we support don’t change the weather, but will help families confront to potential effects of climate change.

We currently support four organizations in Guatemala. The projects range from pre- and post-natal care for women, to permaculture and biodiesel, to microcredit and small business projects. Read more about our efforts in Guatemala here.

that’s why i always encourage our customers to go for fair trade coffee and our rainforest alliance certified coffee.

i honestly commend your efforts.

Thanks for the comment. Fair Trade and other certified coffees definitely give consumers a way to make an impact with their purchase, but as far as coffee companies go, check out James Hoffman’s blog entry, ”The Fair Trade Finish Line” for a good persepctive.

I spent some time harvesting coffee in the hills around Lago de Atilan in Guatemala. It was such a beautiful place and the people were so kind. I hope the plan of action set in Copenhagen actually materializes.

I think that the problem of climate change and its potential impacts on a man’s life, raised in the article, is a matter of great urgency as for publicity, I mean talks, debates and discussions among the scientists, educational institutions, mass media so for practical actions and deeds of the authorities of these top ten countries, mentioned above as the most dangerous and perilous, as well as the prosperous and successful ones, inasmuch climate change influences all. Undoubtedly I agree that the authorities should announce publicly their programs on providing funds, I suppose crediting those businessmen whose income depends directly on climate change. To sum up, this article is an effective challenge as it makes people think and act accordingly.