Guatemala

Guatemala is extremely affected by climate and weather events and its poorer populations are particularly vulnerable. Guatemala ranks ninth in the world for level of risk to the effects of climate change. As a result of widespread deforestation and land degradation, slash-and-burn subsistence agriculture and overexploitation of water resources, Guatemalans rely on degraded natural resources and lands with low productivity, leading to increased food insecurity and vulnerability. Vulnerability is further increased by urbanization and rapid population growth, highly vulnerable physical structures, limited access to suitable water and health services, and low capacity to manage natural disaster risks.