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In irrigated rice fields, plant-mediated transfer of CH4 from submerged soils to the atmosphere raise the possibility of genotypic differences in CH4 emissions. Previous research has been contradictory, and varietal differences in rice CH4 emissions in Latin America have not been examined. A field experiment in Colombia tested whether irrigated rice emissions might be reduced using a breeding line, an inbred variety, and two rice hybrids. Data was collected on CH4 emissions, phenotypic, root, and grain yield parameters. Variations observed in CH4 emissions, grain yield, root length, and root surface area were in the order Hybrid 2 > Hybrid 1 > breeding line > inbred variety. CH4 emissions per unit area were between 29% and 62% greater for the hybrids than the inbred variety and breeding line, and CH4 emissions per unit grain yield were comparable across genotypes. Our findings suggest that differences in root characteristics and aboveground biomass explain genetic influences on CH4 emissions. The transition to low-emission rice production systems can be accelerated by using differences in productivity and root qualities among cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is to determine how to meet the ever-growing global needs for food while preserving natural ecosystems and contributing to climate change mitigation. In the region, continuing land use is occurring and has caused a significant soil organic carbon (SOC) loss. We estimated the SOC reduction in three representative ecosystems of the region: forests (4.21 petagrams of carbon, Pg C, over 30 years), grasslands (1.86−7.32 Pg C, over different periods) and mangroves (0.36 Pg C over 25 years). Increasing SOC stocks in agricultural lands can help to mitigate the SOC loss due to land use change, but multiple factors influence the dynamics and response of the agricultural production and carbon sequestration. Farmers are pivotal actors that contribute to food production and could maintain SOC stocks; however, incentives or fair compensation must be considered to enable this. Moreover, national, and continental policies are needed for land restoration and sustainable management of soil health as a living entity through adoption of nature-positive practices which enhance soil organic matter (SOM) stocks, increase use-efficiency of inputs, and lead to nutrition-sensitive agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caribbean nations are amongst those considered the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. This necessitates climate change education (CCE) to enhance the mitigation and adaptation capacities of the region's populace. CCE is necessary at all levels of the education system, from pre-primary through to the tertiary level. To facilitate this, teachers must be exposed to CCE, understanding what climate change is, its impacts, and how to respond to climate change. Additionally, in order to facilitate students' (as well as their own) abilities to visualise various climate futures and respond to the range of emotions associated with climate change, teachers' own visioning skills must be developed. This article focuses on educators' engagement' with a low-carbon visioning exercise in a CCE course for educators at a regional university in the Caribbean. Thematic analysis of the document and interview data offers illustrations of the possibilities of visioning for awakening students to alternative future possibilities and engendering hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Food security is a key issue in the region, and is related to vulnerability in the natural and human system. This short research paper, which reports on a systematic search of the academic literature and is part of a larger research project on climate change adaptation in Caribbean coastal communities, investigates two central questions: (1) what challenges to food security are Caribbean SIDS facing due to climate change? and (2) what strategies, if any, are being used to adapt to these challenges? We review peer-reviewed articles published after the release of Working Group II's contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2014, which included a chapter on vulnerability and impacts in small islands (Chapter 29). We find that post AR5 articles confirm that climate change will have a significant effect on agriculture and fisheries in the Caribbean, mainly through changing patterns of weather, air and sea surface temperatures, and water availability. These studies highlight the importance of considering the social dimensions of food security in the region when identifying and implementing adaptation strategies, particularly in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These social dimensions include the Caribbean's historical and social context as well as its demographics, which feature varying population densities and poverty rates. They serve to increase vulnerability but are imperative considerations for understanding and minimizing the threat climate change poses to food security in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2010, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO/RLC) have organized a series of annual regional seminars on Agriculture and Climate Change. The series stemmed by awareness about the complexity of dealing with climate change and the difficulties it poses for agriculture, the absence of agriculture in the global discussion on climate change, the neglect of climate change considerations in agricultural policies in most countries in the region, and the absence of forums for dialogues on climate change and agriculture policies. The document presents the main conclusions from the meetings, stressing: (i) the importance of including agriculture in national policy agendas; (ii) the need for policy dialogue, collaborative working arrangements, and better information and communication systems; (iii) the relevance of the evaluation of risks and vulnerabilities, adequate research and innovation agendas, traditional knowledge for adaptation, and the sustainable increase of agricultural productivity; and (iv) the crucial role of international cooperation and financing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A case study is presented on impact of climatic changes on fishers and other marginalized groups in Caribbean region. Topics discussed include environmental psychology, climate change awareness and adaptation to climate change. Other topics which includes climate mitigation and Pedro Cays fishing community are also discussed.

Climate change-related impacts have the capacity to substantially influence Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean. Currently, many SIDS are engaged in large-scale vulnerability assessments that aim to identify, analyse, and inform solutions to mitigate climate change-related impacts. Many of these assessments, while useful, place little emphasis on the local stakeholders' perceptions of climate change. One such Caribbean community impacted by climate-related change is Providence Island in Colombia. Using a vulnerability assessment framework (Marshall, P.A.et al.2010. A framework for social adaptation to climate change: sustaining tropical coastal communities and industries. Gland: IUCN Publication Services), researchers interviewed island residents (N= 23) about their perceptions of climate change, impacts on the local environment, and how the island community may adapt. All interviews were transcribed and analysed using a priori and open coding to identify patterns of and relationships between stakeholders' responses. Results indicate that local perceptions of climate change are linked to (1) environmental knowledge, (2) environmental awareness, attitudes, and beliefs, and (3) perceptions of risk. Implications for local adaptive strategies, education, communication, and suggestions for engagement at the local level are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]