South+America

= Climate Change & Population Movement Effects on Education in South America =
 * Group Members: Danielle Collins, Jaclyn Davies, Catherine Fink, and Nicole Garza**

**Video: Climate Change South America**

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**Climate Change in South America**

South America has experienced differences in their climate recently. According to //Know Climate Change// (2013), changes include intense rainfall in Venezuela, flooding in Argentina, the Amazon drought in Brazil during 2005, and the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Greenhouse gases have affected the climate of both central and southern South America, as well. Global warming is said to be able to aggravate disease and pest transmission processes, along with heat-related diseases and illnesses (2006). Since Latin America has a large tropical and subtropical environment, the people living there are already exposed to diseases typical within this environment. With that being said, more people who are living in poverty would be affected by the effects of climate change due to their living conditions. Being poor enables them to be more vulnerable within that type of climate. These diseases would also hinder the malnutrition rates due to food production. According to Barbieri et. al., regions with lower income levels and worse social indicators would have the highest out-migration rates (2010). This means that income and employment rates have played an important role in migration patterns within South America, which can also be tied to climate change requiring people to relocate. **Climate Change and Population Movement**

As stated in Rus’ //Climate Change and Population Movement//, shifting rainfall patterns and the loss of glaciers would reduce water availability. In dry areas that agricultural land would be salty and sandy. This would allow the area to have lower crop yields and lower livestock production – meaning less reliable food. In a tropical rain forest area, higher temperatures and the loss of ground water may reduce biodiversity. This would then affect the livelihood of many indigenous communities. The rise of sea level would mean more flooding within low-lying areas of land. Warmer seas will weaken fish stocks. Water shortages would affect between 80 – 180 million people in South America. Climate change is adding another burden upon poor people. The poor stand to lose the most when it comes to climate changes. It affects the water they have access to and threatens agriculture productive system. Migration seems to be the only solution.

**Its Effects on Education** All of the above factors regarding climate change would also effect education in some way. Children living in poverty are more likely to be effected because of their own living conditions. If they are not receiving the proper nutrition and/or have a disease, they will not be able to go to school. A child’s behavioral growth is affected if given lack of nutrition. This will then limit the child’s capacity to learn while attending school.

**References:**

Moreno, A. (2006). Climate change and human health in Latin America: drivers, effects, and policies. //Regional Environmental Change//, //6//(3), 157-164.

Barbieri, A. F., Domingues, E., Queiroz, B. L., Ruiz, R. M., Rigotti, J. I., Carvalho, J. M., & Resende, M. F. (2010). Climate change and population migration in Brazil’s Northeast: scenarios for 2025–2050. //Population & Environment//, //31//(5), 344-370.

//Impacts of climate change - impacts of south america//. (2013). Retrieved from http://know.climateofconcern.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=article&id=110

Rus, J. M. G. (n.d.). //Climate change and population movement//. Retrieved from http://www.mediterraneumrc.org/pls/portal30/docs/PAGE/CANCRE/CCM/ISSUES/CCMMIGRANTS/HUMANITARIAN_MIGRATIONS/TAB32602499/CLIMATE CHANGE AND POPULATION MOVEMENT PDF COPY.PDF