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Latin America's legal step toward combating ecocide

DW, 10/07/2026

Synopsis: On Thursday, October 1, 2026, a group of more than 30 experts from 14 Latin American countries presented a model law aimed at codifying the crime of ecocide across the subcontinent.

The proposal consists of 18 articles and stipulates that "anyone who, through action or omission, causes serious damage to the environment that is either widespread or long-lasting, shall be punished with a prison sentence of eight to twenty years."

Lina Muñoz-a Colombian lawyer, educator, and representative of the Alliance of Environmental Legal Clinics of Latin America and the Caribbean-noted: "In Latin America, there are now frequent attempts to weaken environmental legislation and oversight." In this context, ecocide serves as "an indispensable tool for defending life on our planet."

Rising sea levels, wetlands, and extreme weather are disrupting the balance that turned the Mekong region into a rice-producing powerhouse.

Noticias ONU, 10/05/2026

Synopsis: For generations, agriculture in Vietnam's Mekong Delta has relied on a delicate pact. The river would overflow, recede, and overflow again, carrying fresh water and sediment across a flat landscape-a region whose vast fields helped make the country one of the world's leading rice exporters.

As sea levels rise, saltwater is penetrating further and further inland. Climate change is also making established patterns of drought and flooding less predictable.

Furthermore, dams built upstream have trapped much of the sediment that once flowed downstream; the volume has dropped from approximately 143 million metric tons two decades ago to an estimated 32 million today.

Some farmers are responding to this changing environment not by keeping the saltwater out, but by finding ways to put it to use-for instance, by farming shrimp.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu: "If we do not all act together, climate change could push more than 132 million people into poverty."

La Iguana.tv, 10/12/2026

Synopsis: On Monday, October 12, Director-General Qu Dongyu opened the FAO World Food Forum in Rome, focusing on the direct impact of the climate crisis on the most vulnerable rural populations. "Climate extremes are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. By 2030, more than 132 million people could be pushed into poverty as a result, unless we all act together," he warned.

In his remarks, he highlighted the knowledge held by Indigenous peoples, noting that it contains "the answer to sustainability challenges that modern science is only now beginning to rediscover."

He also emphasized that "artificial intelligence, digital tools, and cutting-edge science can accelerate solutions that we could not have imagined just a few years ago."

Through the Rome Water Dialogue, he urged a focus on "one of the most critical issues of our time: how to manage, share, and protect water for food, for people, and for the planet."

"The ocean is transforming before our eyes": scientists, upon learning of 2025 data

El Espectador, 10/04/2026

Synopsis: The Copernicus Marine Service-the European Union program that monitors the environment and climate change-has published its tenth Ocean State Report. Compiled by more than 120 scientists from around the world, the report offers the starkest warning to date regarding the profound changes occurring in the oceans as a result of climate change, all while an unprecedented El Niño event takes shape.

It notes that the total amount of heat stored in the ocean reached its highest recorded level in 2025, absorbing 23 zettajoules of heat-nearly 40 times the total energy consumed by humanity that year.

Furthermore, the report documents a progressive rise in both sea levels and ocean acidity.

As the ocean absorbs more heat, the authors warn, the effects ripple throughout the entire marine system. For instance, warmer waters fuel marine heatwaves, can intensify storms, disrupt ecosystems, and contribute to sea-level rise through thermal expansion and the melting of glaciers.

These are the 3 countries in Latin America that will suffer the most from the economic blow of El Niño

La Iguana, 10/08/2026

Synopsis: Ecuador, Paraguay, and Argentina are the Latin American countries that could suffer the most significant negative economic impact in 2026 due to the climate phenomenon known as El Niño, the World Bank (WB) warned in its report, "Economic Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean."

"El Niño poses additional downside risks, as droughts in some parts of the region and floods in others could affect production and increase price pressures-with Ecuador, Paraguay, and Argentina potentially facing the greatest impacts," the document explains.

"This vulnerability is rooted in the region's energy matrix. Given that hydroelectric power accounts for nearly half of Latin America's total electricity generation, prolonged droughts-particularly in parts of northern South America, the Andean region, and Central America-pose serious risks to power generation capacity," it noted.

Venezuela: Crossing between Táchira and Apure closed following the collapse of the Burgua bridge due to rains

La Iguana.tv, 10/10/2026

Synopsis: The Ministry of People's Power for Transportation reported that heavy rainfall in the Andean region caused the collapse of the Burgua Bridge, located on the "Local 1" road, on the border between the states of Táchira and Apure. Due to this situation, authorities have closed the bridge to traffic while they address the emergency.

"We invite you to stay tuned to our social media channels, where we will provide updates on the work being carried out to recover this important structure and restore connectivity between the two states," the Ministry of Transportation stated in an official announcement.

Study confirms that global warming exacerbated heat and drought in Venezuela

Ultimas Noticias, 10/07/2026

Synopsis: Warming caused by human activity exacerbated heat and intensified extreme droughts in Venezuela during the 2015-2024 decade, according to a study published in the scientific journal *Weather and Climate Extremes*. The study compared the climate during those years with a simulation of what conditions would have been like in the absence of global warming, finding that the country would have experienced less severe conditions.

The research shows that this warming intensified conditions already influenced by natural weather variations. The El Niño phenomenon continues to play a significant role, particularly regarding drought episodes.

The study reveals a much higher frequency of warm nights than would have occurred without human-induced warming. The lack of nighttime relief is significant because the human body requires recovery time from the heat endured during the day. If temperatures remain high after sunset, this recovery process is hindered. While the study does not quantify deaths or hospitalizations in Venezuela, it highlights a level of exposure that poses a health risk.

It also underscores the combination of heat and humidity. When the air is highly humid, sweat evaporates less easily, making it harder for the body to cool itself. In Venezuela, there are days in every month where temperatures exceed the 26°C threshold.

Venezuela: Rains in Portuguesa leave 4 bridges collapsed and rural settlements cut off

La iguana.tv, 10/13/2026

Synopsis: The rains in Portuguesa have caused the collapse of four bridges, four footbridges, and four small culvert bridges, leaving dozens of rural settlements and thousands of coffee-farming families cut off. This was reported by Governor Primitivo Cedeño, who provided an assessment of the damage to the state's road infrastructure, adding that various areas have experienced flooding due to rivers and streams overflowing their banks.

This has forced residents of dozens of rural settlements to make their way across roads with water reaching their waists, while carrying children and the elderly on their backs.

The grain-producing hub of Portuguesa is among the areas most severely affected by the rains. The emergency puts the grain harvest at risk, as it is currently impossible to access production sites or transport grain to collection centers.

Sardines: a "superfood" at risk due to climate change

DW, 10/08/2026

Synopsis: "Adriatic sardines are shrinking"-so reported a news portal in the Croatian region of Istria, noting that the average size of sardines has decreased by three to four centimeters over the last two decades.

Researchers have identified overfishing and climate change as the causes.

Following a summer of record-breaking temperatures-during which the surface of the Adriatic Sea reached 30 degrees Celsius-the future of the sardine in this region has become even more uncertain. This also threatens the survival of the local fish-canning industry, one of the oldest along the Croatian coast.

For many, the loss of the sardine fishery would be a severe blow, especially since the coastal regions of the Adriatic have already experienced significant deindustrialization since the 1990s.

The Adriatic Sea is warming much faster than other parts of the Mediterranean. A Croatian research institute found that, over the last decade, the deep waters of the Adriatic have warmed four times as much as they did throughout the entire previous century. This makes the environment increasingly inhospitable for sardines, which require specific temperature ranges to reproduce.

At one time, there were about 35 such factories operating across Istria, Dalmatia, and the Croatian islands; today, only four remain. Tourism has also played a role-and, much like the sardine population, it has become increasingly unpredictable in the face of these heatwaves.

What the loss of Papua's eternal snow-the last tropical ice between the Andes and the Himalayas-signifies

BBC, 10/09/2026

Synopsis: On the peaks of the world's second-largest island, almost all the snow has vanished.

A century ago, the 300-km stretch of the Sudirman Range featured permanent snow and ice on its four main peaks. Now, it is expected that these will disappear entirely within a year or two.

Glacial coverage around the summit has shrunk from nearly 1,900 hectares in the 19th century to about 16 hectares today.

The retreat of glaciers in Papua is driven by the same forces affecting ice worldwide, notes Šabacká: the warming of the atmosphere caused by human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.

As temperatures rise, the freezing level shifts to higher altitudes in the mountains; consequently, a greater proportion of precipitation falls as rain rather than snow-even in places where it once snowed regularly.

Populations of wild species continue to decline, and Latin America is bearing the brunt.

El País, 10/07/2026

Synopsis: The organization WWF and the Zoological Society of London have released their *Living Planet* report, which assesses the state of global biodiversity. Based on 52 years of data-up to and including 2022-the report confirms a sustained decline in wildlife populations. Latin America and the Caribbean, being the most biodiverse region, have been hit the hardest.

Since 1970, there has been an average 73% decline in wildlife populations globally; for Latin America and the Caribbean, that figure reaches 95%.

To calculate the global index, the organizations measured changes in the population sizes of 5,790 vertebrate species, comprising 35,803 distinct populations. For Latin America, the data covers 1,405 species across 4,737 populations.

Freshwater species have been the most severely affected, experiencing an average overall decline of 85%-this includes fish found in rivers, lakes, and wetlands, as well as otters, crocodiles, and more. Terrestrial species follow with a 69% decline, while marine species have seen a 59% decline-the slowest rate of change among the three major ecosystem types.

The way we produce energy and food, along with the structure of our financial system, is largely responsible for bringing us to this point. The report notes that in 2023, approximately $7.3 trillion was directed toward activities harmful to nature, while only $220 billion went toward activities that protect or restore it.

Ethiopia made history by becoming the first country in the world to ban the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles.

Huffington Post, 10/18/2026

Synopsis: Unlike European countries, which view this transition as a long-term climate goal, the Ethiopian government adopted this radical measure for reasons of economic survival and energy strategy.

This move was driven, firstly, by the expenditure of billions of dollars in foreign currency to import and subsidize fossil fuels, and secondly, by the desire to harness the country's vast hydroelectric potential-bolstered by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has doubled domestic electricity generation.

The ban applies strictly to vehicles with purely internal combustion engines; hybrid and fully electric vehicles are exempt and remain permitted.

The number of electric vehicles on the road has grown rapidly, surpassing 115,000 units, supplemented by more than 100 electric buses operating in the capital, Addis Ababa. The official target is to reach 500,000 electric vehicles by 2030.

However, for many citizens, the transition is challenging due to the high upfront cost of new electric cars, the lack of a robust network of public charging stations, and the very rapid depreciation of electric models in the second-hand market.

Summer was the hottest ever recorded in Western Europe, reports Copernicus.

AFP, 10/02/2026

Synopsis: A record 52% of European territory was exposed to intense heat stress this summer-defined as a perceived temperature exceeding 38°C-which can cause symptoms ranging from dizziness and headaches to multiple organ failure or death, the European Union's climate observatory reported.

According to Copernicus, this summer was the hottest ever recorded in Western Europe, featuring four of the ten most intense heatwaves ever known on the continent-most notably in France, but also in the United Kingdom and Belgium.

In 2026, "there were 17 days when at least 60% of Western Europe experienced temperatures above 30°C, compared to 11 days in 2003 and 7 days in 2025."

Approximately 80% of the continent experienced "strong" heat stress, meaning a perceived temperature above 32°C.

"The summer of 2026 demonstrated the extent to which heat stress is becoming increasingly widespread," added Burgess, noting that this is the leading cause of weather-related mortality globally.

Venezuela: Extreme drought strikes at the heart of family-run livestock farming in Paraguaná

Ultimas Noticias, 10/07/2026

Synopsis: Prolonged lack of rainfall pushes the resilience of small-scale producers to the breaking point.

"Two years ago, a single goat would give me up to three liters of milk a day. Today, I struggle to get even half a liter. Half the herd has gone dry due to the heat and the lack of sufficient feed," says Jesús, a local producer, as he runs his hand along the bony back of one of his best-producing goats.

The drastic drop in milk yields is being felt throughout the entire supply chain. The artisanal production of cheese, *requesón* (ricotta-style cheese), whey, and traditional goat-milk preserves has fallen to critical levels in the rural settlements of the Falcón municipality. Kitchens and small, family-run cheese-making operations are running at a fraction of their capacity due to a lack of raw materials.

Following two consecutive periods without sufficient rainfall-on land that is already arid-this prolonged scarcity has overwhelmed existing community infrastructure, which now requires urgent maintenance to cope with the climate crisis.

Without water or pasture, the weakest animals collapse from exhaustion after traveling for kilometers among parched *cují* trees in search of the few remaining green shoots. Pregnant goats are unable to carry their pregnancies to term.

"You watch as the kids die in your own hands. Pregnant goats either miscarry or die during labor; if a kid is born, it's so weak that it can't even stand, and within a few hours, it collapses. We are losing both our current herd and the future of our livestock," says Jesús, gazing toward the horizon to avoid looking at an enclosure that now feels far too large for the few animals left.

"There is no money to buy a truckload of water or a sack of feed," the small-scale breeders agree. Their only remaining option is to liquidate their assets-selling off parts of their herds at fire-sale prices-in a desperate attempt to save the animals that are still standing.

The artisanal dams that used to store water for six months are now large fissures in the dry mud. The deeper reservoirs, lined with stone slabs to hold water for up to a year, exhausted their reserves after the second period without rain.

Mudslide leaves six injured and thousands of homes affected in Santiago, Chile

Últimas Noticias, 10/10/2026

Synopsis: Authorities in the municipality of Las Condes remain on alert due to the risk of further mudslides and have provided an updated assessment of the emergency following a technical meeting.

A mudslide that struck the Las Condes commune resulted in damage to 2,015 homes in the Santiago Metropolitan Region of Chile. Additionally, six people were injured, including a one-year-old child.

In light of the risk of further mudslides, a temporary suspension of classes at schools has been ordered, and more than 1,000 people have been evacuated.

Ecuador: Mazar Reservoir Nears Its Most Critical Level

Telesur, 10/12/2026

Synopsis: The Electric Corporation of Ecuador (Celec EP) raised an alarm over the weekend regarding the rapid depletion of the Mazar reservoir-Ecuador's largest strategic water reserve-which saw its water level drop by nearly six meters in just 10 days, including a decline of 1.53 meters in a single day.

With a drop of this magnitude, the reservoir is now less than ten meters above its minimum safe operating level. Crossing that threshold would jeopardize the national electricity supply.

With a capacity of 170 megawatts, the Mazar facility can store up to 410 million cubic meters of water. It plays a vital regulatory role, supplying water to downstream power plants: Molino (1,100 megawatts) and Sopladora (487 megawatts). As the reservoir approaches its operational limit, the stability of the entire interconnected power system is put at risk, and the margin for maneuver is exhausted.

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