1. The Impact of Climate Change on Nutritional and Food Security Ana Victoria Román, PhD October, 2009

2. Regional Mandates through Agreements of Presidential Summits, Meetings of Health Ministers and Tri-ministerial Meetings between Health-Environment-Agriculture XIV (1993) y XXII (2002) Summit of Presidents and Chiefs of State of Central America, which took place in Guatemala and San Jose, Costa Rica, respectively “We welcome the regional initiative for Food and Nutritional Security in Central American countries, driven by the Health Ministers, and we instruct them to follow-up on this with the technical and scientific support of the Institute of Central America and Panama (INCAP) and of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), with the support of the Secretary General of SICA.” Resolution 20, XIV Presidents’ Summit, Guatemala, October 1993.

3. Strategic Framework to confront the situation of food and nutritional insecurity associated with conditions of drought and climate change. XXII Presidents’ Summit, 2002 Regional Program for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Environmental Degradation, RPRVED, Regional Agro-environmental and Health Strategy RAHS, 2008 Action Plan to protect Health and the Effects of Climate Change, PAHO/WHO Directing Council, 2008 Climate Change Regional Strategy, 2009 Health Agenda for Central America, 2009

4. Resolutions of Tri-ministerial Meetings of Ministers of Health, Agriculture, and Environment of Central America, June 2004, April 2008 Request INCAP/PAHO to develop a regional strategy on food and nutritional security in the context of climate change. To strengthen the capacity of countries in the region in mitigation and adaptation mechanisms at the national and local levels to enable them to face the challenges of variability and climate change.

5. To increase the effectiveness of early alert systems for communicable diseases and nutritional status related to variability and climate change. To strengthen the epidemiological surveillance of the nutritional situation, infectious diseases, waterborne and foodborne diseases, and diseases transmitted by vectors related to climate and climate change. Advanced systems of geo-referencing that facilitate the integration of information from the health, agriculture, and environment sectors. Continuation

6. Central America 20 biological reserves and 8% of the planet’s biodiversity. In the last 25 years, approximately 5000 people from the subregion die each year as a consequence extreme climactic events, SICA 2008. The frequency of droughts has increased by 360%, hurricanes by 525% and floods by 266%, if one compares the periods of 1971-1975 with 2000-2005, UNDP 2004, German Watch, Global Climate Risk Index. 50% of the families in vulnerable areas depend solely on family food production to satisfy their nutritional needs. Produces less than 0.5% of the planet’s GEI emissions.

7. SICA Border areas Rural areas Land not apt for agricultural production, limited access to water and livelihoods Marginal areas in cities Boys and girls younger than 36 months Fertile women Older adults SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS Salaried a gricultural workers without access to land Limited or no land possession Migrants Limited or no access to basic quality services in health, water, sanitation, education, and agriculture Income of less than $ 1.00 US/day VULNERABLE GROUPS: Who and where are they? Geographic Areas Life Cycle Functional Groups

8. 26 million poor (70%) 26 million poor (70%) Income less than US $ 2. Income less than US $ 2. 10 million Extremely poor (26%) Income less than US $ 1. GROUPS AT RISK: HOW MANY? 37 million Central Americans 100% World Bank, 2004

9. “The state in which all people enjoy, in an opportune and permanent manner, access to the food that they need, in the quantity and quality necessary for their adequate consumption and biological utilization, guaranteeing them a wellbeing that contributes to their human development.” Adaptation: The adjustments that natural or human systems make in response to climate stimuli or their effects, moderating the danger and taking advantage of positive opportunities.

10. Prevalence of Anemia at Pre-School Age CountryPrevalence (%) Guatemala 1 37.5 El Salvador 1 16.5 Honduras 1 33.7 Nicaragua 2 33.4* Costa Rica 1 26** Panamá 2 22.05*** Dominican Republic 2 30.7* Sources: 1. Diagnostic of the nutritional situation and characterization of food and nutrition programs directed towards children 6-36 months in Central America and Panama. Final Report. WFP. 2005. 2. Most recent survey available Note: Cut-off Point Hb < 11 g/dL * Population ages 6 to 59 months ** Preschool population (0 to 6 years) *** Population ages 12 to 36 months Unit for Surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, INCAP/OPS 2007

11. Problem Tree related to Food-Nutritional Insecurity Low OutputLearning difficulties Delayed Growth Weight loss Severe MorbidityHigh Mortality HUMAN SUBDEVELOPMENT FOOD-NUTRITIONAL INSECURITY Inadequate diet in quality and quantity High vulnerability to infections SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT Insufficient-unstable food availability Low acquisitive capacity Inadequate Food Behavior Insufficient sanitary conditions High external dependence Inadequate internal trade Low production and output Low or no revenue Elevated IPC of goods and services Deficient food education Inadequate Food Culture Limited Sanitation Infrastructure Limited access To health services

12. Environmental Insecurity Human Insecurity RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL INSECURITY AND HUMAN INSECURITY