Droughts pose serious socio-economic risks in Mexico

Outlook

The intensity of this year’s droughts has been attributed partly to the La Nina phenomenon. It nevertheless also highlights the threats climate change poses to water supplies, agriculture and social order. While recent rains have eased the problem nationally, those have, in places, caused flooding, bringing further damage.

Water infrastructure investment could mitigate future challenges, but projects would be complex, expensive and vulnerable to corruption. Cloud seeding, employed in several states this month, offers possibilities of localised, short-term drought relief, but requires specific conditions, threatened by rising temperatures. Long-term success in addressing drought will depend on global climate change responses.

Impacts

• Increased water pressures could exacerbate tensions between federal and state governments, and with US authorities.
• Pandemic-induced economic pressures could weigh on investment in water infrastructure, crucial in mitigating drought and flooding impacts.
• Regular severe droughts could result in population displacement, exacerbating migration pressures.
• Climate challenge around the world could decrease the ability and willingness of countries to offer disaster aid to others.