Guatemala

Guatemala faces severe ecological and societal challenges, including multiyear droughts and a lack of centralized water governance, which exacerbate poverty and food insecurity. These conditions, combined with rampant corruption and violence, drive migration toward the U.S. border. The document argues that the U.S. should leverage strategic frameworks like CARSI and the Alliance for Prosperity to support Guatemala's institutional reform and the development of a comprehensive legal framework for water governance to mitigate these security risks.

• Guatemala lacks a centralized governing body or comprehensive legislation for water management, leading to a system where commercial plantations, mining, and hydropower projects are prioritized over rural populations. This lack of governance allows for the diversion of rivers and pollution of waterways with little to no enforcement of existing mandates; for instance, only 10% of municipalities chlorinated water as required in 2010.
• Climate change is intensifying ecological hazards in Guatemala, including more frequent hurricanes, flash floods, mudslides, and a severe multiyear drought. The World Bank identifies Guatemala as having the fifth-highest economic risk from climate-related hazards. These factors, alongside rising temperatures, threaten food security and the coffee export industry via the spread of coffee rust.
• Severe food and water insecurity are contributing to high levels of malnutrition and migration. A 2015-2016 drought affected 75% of maize crops and depleted food stores for 1.5 million subsistence farmers, while 47% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition. Oxfam projects that food prices in Guatemala will double by 2030.
• Systemic violence, corruption, and water-related conflicts are driving migration toward the U.S. border. Between 2013 and 2014, the number of unaccompanied minors apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border doubled to 52,000. The document notes that water-deprived groups migrating to water-rich areas create territorial conflicts that may spill over into El Salvador and Honduras.

APA

Spangler, C. N. (2017). Guatemala. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/567/18npg56iey_GUATEMALA.pdf

Chicago

Spangler, Chelsea N. Guatemala. WWF International, 2017. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/567/18npg56iey_GUATEMALA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Spangler |first1=Chelsea N. |title=Guatemala |publisher=WWF International |date=2017 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/567/18npg56iey_GUATEMALA.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{spangler2017guatemala, author = {Spangler, Chelsea N.}, title = {{Guatemala}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2017}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/567/18npg56iey_GUATEMALA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }