Project Proposal: How Climate Change Affects Agriculture in South and Central America
by
Student Name
HSA4113 – Online – Semester
Global Issues and Trends in Healthcare
Professor
Florida International University
Month, day, Year
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Project Proposal: How Climate Change Affects Agriculture in South and Central America
Introduction to the Problem
Problem to be addressed. A changing climate is not something new to South and
Central America. Both regions are already battling a weather-war against recurring hurricanes,
horrid flash floods and landslides, linked to violent and changing rainfall patterns. Days have
become noticeably warmer and the region has been losing its number of cool nights. On top of
that, unusual low rainfall means Central America now has to prepare for a drought linked food
crises (Familiar, 2014).
Problem subtopic. Climate change results in both direct adverse effects on the health of
the population, as well as indirect adverse effects resulting from changes in ecological and social
systems. The more direct impacts include illness and death from heat stress, breathing problems
due to worsening pollution, increased incidence of infectious diseases for example, increased
flooding will affect the drinking water supply, increased transport of pathogens rising
temperatures may also promote their survival and persistence, and injuries from an increased
occurrence of natural disasters. The more indirect effects include rising risks of malnutrition and
health problems associated with massive migration and displaced populations living in shelters
(Leon, 2015).
Possible Causes and Maintaining Forces
Cause. Greenhouse gases emitted by humans, Greenhouse gases come from all sorts of
everyday activities, such as using electricity, heating our homes, and driving around town.
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These greenhouse gases don't just stay in one place after they're added to the atmosphere. As air
moves around the world, greenhouse gases become globally mixed, which means the
concentration of a greenhouse gas like carbon dioxide is roughly the same no matter where you
measure it. (Hass, 2016).
Cause. Tropical deforestation is a major cause of climate change. more forests have been
destroyed in this region than in any other since the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change was adopted in 1992 (Hass, 2016)
Why the problem persists. The lack of public concern about climate change the affects
it has to the people and agriculture in these countries. Americans' generally low level of concern
about global warming compared with other environmental issues is not new, warming has
generally ranked last among Americans' environmental worries each time which is a big problem
in this country (Rousseau, 2014).
Why the problem persists. Lack of acceptance and understanding by the nations and
their government. Global warming remains an issue of widespread political debate, often split
along party political lines, especially in the United States. Many of the issues that are settled
within the scientific community, such as human responsibility for global warming, remain the
subject of politically or economically motivated attempts to downplay, dismiss or deny
(Rousseau, 2014).
Background and Justification
Prior attempts and previously proposed solutions. Talks seek to build on the Kyoto
Protocol, signed in 1997 and officially brought into force in 2005, and subsequent rounds. Under
Kyoto, developed nations were bound to reduce combined greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2
percent by 2012, compared to their 1990 levels. Under its framework, targets are set for each
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country depending on their size, and importantly, on their historic “climate debt.” So while
hyper-developed United States were meant to lower emissions by seven percent, many
developing countries are even permitted a rise. In my project I will use painting/art to justify how
it can inspire concern, acceptance, and action in ways that the large scale previous attempts have
not been able to. I will justify my idea by demonstrating my painting to a doctor and his staff that
specializes in breathing complication due to the environment and other causes. After it is viewed
by them I will ask them to give me feedback about my drawing and what they took from it
(Villegas, 2014).
Deficiencies in the solution paradigm. But in 2009 at the Copenhagen Climate Change
Conference, this whole process was severely damaged, with many pointing the finger at the
United States. That conference was meant to agree climate change mitigation beyond 2012. But
the Copenhagen Accord allowed countries to decide their own targets for greenhouse gas
emissions reduction, on a voluntary, non-binding basis. Also the persisting force of lack of
public concern, awareness, acceptance and belief that the issue of climate change is affecting
these countries in this era especially with all the technology available now (Villegas, 2014).
Supplemental Material. I will be inspired by others painters that composed painting and
drawings inspired by the climate change and its affects it has to these countries. I will gain
knowledge and conduct research on these artists and try my best to think the way they were at
that moment and compose my own drawing to share with others.
Newly Proposed Deliverable
Deliverable overview. The aim for this activity is to create awareness of the climate
change and the affects it has on agriculture in Central and South America. I will do my research
in other artists that create paintings that shows how agriculture of these countries were affected
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by the weather. It will consist of pictures, facts and biographies of painters and their art work.
Towards the end I will attempt to create an original painting of own interrupting what I learned
from these artists.
Significance to the student. Our next generation will have to live in a world with less
nature and wildlife due to the choices we are doing today. It is important that society handles this
situation as soon as possible for the sake of our future kids. If society does not understand with
facts maybe they will learn to appreciate the earth more through art.
Target audience. Under the age of 30 or anyone that enjoys viewing art.
External dissemination platform. Platforms such as museums, magazines, newspapers,
websites, places were its will catch the audience attention
Proposed length and justification. The activity will be about two- three pages long
using valuable sources.
Evaluation
Goal of new deliverable. To provide the targeted audience with a fun source on the topic
of climate change without it being long and boring. It will automatically catch their eye and be
interested to learn more compared to a long essay filled with numbers and facts
Success outcome measures. If conducted correctly, this activity will make society look
at the climate change in a different way and will start to realize that it is a serious issue.
Enhancement of global awareness. I am targeting this specific audience because it
allows me to inspire a certain group that might not have a clear notion of what is going in these
countries. The under 30 crowd is a young demographic that is taught well they could make a big
difference to the fight of climate change. My redesign/deliverable project will inform everyone
about the causes that the climate change has caused to these countries. The illustrations will
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hopefully open the audience eyes and experience through the painting the hardship that the
natives are suffering from the climate.
Enhancement of global perspective-taking. This activity will allow society to look at
climate change and its severity in a fun and interesting way but yet being cultivating enough to
arise awareness of the issue. My project will show through art the hard ache of the people that
are living in this country. Art is something that everyone is into somehow so combining art with
real life situations that is going on in the world, it will catch of the attention of many people even
the younger generations. Yes, you can read facts about this on the internet but what makes mines
unique is that it will provided you the opportunity to look at a drawing and see what that person
what thinking. It makes it interesting and less dramatic.
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References
""Climate Change Impacts in Latin America and the Caribbean: Confronting the New Climate
Normal"" World Bank. Jorge Familiar, 2 Dec. 2104. Web. 26 June 2016.
"Climate Change and Health in South America – The Global Climate and Health Alliance."
Climate Change and Health in South America – The Global Climate and Health Alliance. Pool
Aguilar León, 2015. Web. 26 June 2016.
"Ocean Global Warming Impacts on the South America Climate." Frontiers. Reinaldo Haas, 29
Mar. 2016. Web. 26 June 2016.
"Why Are Governments Pretending Global Warming Isn’t Happening?" The New Economy.
Oscar Rousseau, 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 26 June 2016.
"Latin America's Fight for a Just Climate Solution." TeleSUR. Patricia Villegas., 8 Dec. 2014.
Web. 26 June 2016.
