Venezuela

It takes only 158 days for the average Canadian to produce as much greenhouse gases as the average Venezuelan will produce over the course of the entire year.  Therefore, June 7th (158 days into the year) is "Climate Change Impacts in Venezuela Day."

Venezuela has experienced a significant warming over the last half century.  Continued warming could increase the range of some infectious diseases in the region, and could promote the growth of toxic algal blooms.  Viral and bacterial agents responsible for human infection can survive longer in warmer waters.  This is a huge concern as infectious and parasitic diseases is the main cause of death of children in Latin America.

With the warming has come climatic changes, including a general decrease in rainfall.  This decrease in precipitation is expected to continue in the future, and could lead to drinking water shortages in some areas of the country.

To read more about the health impacts of climate change in Venezuela and Latin America, see the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's special report, “The Regional Impacts of Climate Change.”