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Elevated Temperatures Reduce Agricultural Production and Trigger Human Illness
Santo Domingo, May 30th 2007

Graciela Magrín of the Instituto de Clima y Agua (INTLA) in Argentina (the Institute of Climate and Water), argued that increased temperatures due to climate change will adversely affect agricultural production, and trigger a variety of diseases.

During her presentation, Magrín predicted the following:

• Increased floods and droughts
• Increased instability within agricultural production
• The loss of human life due to extremely high increases in temperature

She stressed that elevated temperatures and precipitation levels would result in reduced winter periods, higher rates of human reproduction and shorter generational gaps, the transmission of disease, and the increased generation of spores, bacteria, mushrooms, and nematodes.

Magrín ascertained that processes of salinization and the desertification of agricultural lands are occurring at higher rates as a result of climate change. She hypothesized that by the year 2050, 50% of the earth would be affected by salinization and/or desertification. According to Magrín, areas of particular risk in Latin America include: Central and Northern Chile, coastal Peru, Northeastern Brazil, Central and Northeastern Argentina, and vast expanses of Central America.

She also referenced a 2002 study indicating that certain developing nations are losing between 4-8% of their Gross Internal Product (GIP) due to drops in agricultural productivity associated with environmental degradation.

International Week on Climate is organized by GFDD, FUNGLODE, and the Dominican Chapter of the International Center for Environmental and Sustainable Development Studies (CIEMADeS), with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Live broadcasts of the conferences can be seen at:
http://www.globalfoundationdd.org/seminars/climatechanges2007/cpo_live.asp

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