Impact on people
El cambio climático en Colombia no solo afecta al medio ambiente, sino que también tiene repercusiones en la población. Estos impactos se manifiestan en diferentes ámbitos como la salud pública, la economía y la sociedad en general, exacerbando las desigualdades existentes y afectando a las comunidades más vulnerables.[21].
Public health
Climate change has created favorable conditions for the proliferation of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, malaria and yellow fever. Rising temperatures, intense rains and flooding create environments conducive to the spread of mosquitoes, especially in hot and humid areas such as the Caribbean region and the Amazon. According to the National Institute of Health "Instituto Nacional de Salud (Colombia)") (INS), between 2019 and 2022, Colombia registered more than 120,000 cases of dengue annually, with an increase of 36% in years of climatic phenomena such as El Niño "El Niño (phenomenon)").[24].
Extreme heat waves and extreme weather events especially affect vulnerable populations, such as older adults, children, and people with chronic illnesses. A report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) indicates that rising temperatures increase the risk of heat stroke and respiratory diseases in areas of high exposure to heat and pollution. In coastal cities such as Barranquilla and Cartagena, the heat index can exceed 40°C, exacerbating hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.[25].
On the other hand, air pollution in urban areas, intensified by forest fires, vehicular emissions and industrial sources, aggravates chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), poor air quality contributes to approximately 7 million premature deaths annually in the world, with Latin America being one of the regions most affected by this problem due to disorderly urban growth.[26].
Economic Impacts
Climate change has direct effects on key sectors of the Colombian economy such as:
• - Agriculture: Agriculture, which represents more than 6.2% of Colombian GDP and employs 16% of the workforce, is affected by alterations in rainfall "Precipitation (meteorology)") and prolonged droughts. According to an IDEAM report, the productivity of crops such as coffee, rice and corn has been reduced by 10% in the last 15 years due to climatic variations.[27] In the case of coffee, a flagship product of the country, higher temperatures and the appearance of pests such as the borer have generated annual losses of more than 100 million dollars.[28].
• - Fisheries: In the fishing sector, changes in water temperature and salinity patterns affect key species such as tilapia and catfish "Catfish (genus)"). According to the FAO, fish catches have decreased by 25% in the Caribbean region "Caribbean (region)"), directly affecting the income of more than 80,000 artisanal fishermen.[29].
• - Infrastructure: Natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, cause damage to road infrastructure, homes, and electrical systems. According to a World Bank report, the costs associated with extreme climate events in the country were estimated at approximately 7.1 trillion Colombian pesos (equivalent to 3,674 million dollars) during the period from 2010 to 2011.[30] This report details that floods and landslides were responsible for significant losses in various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture and housing. For example, the 2010-2011 floods severely affected road infrastructure, disrupting transportation and communication in several regions of the country, in addition to generating considerable damage to electrical systems and homes.[30] Additionally, studies by the National Planning Department (DNP) "Departamento Nacional de Planeación (Colombia)") and the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) have documented accumulated economic costs from disasters. extreme climates in recent decades, confirming the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in Colombia. The implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies, as well as greater investment in resilient infrastructure, is considered a priority to reduce economic losses and guarantee the safety of affected communities.[30].
Social Impacts
Climate change exacerbates social inequalities in Colombia, mainly affecting communities with fewer economic resources and less capacity to adapt, such as rural, indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations.
• - Forced displacement: According to a report from the National Center for Historical Memory (CNMH), more than 350,000 people in the last 20 years have been internally displaced due to climate phenomena such as floods and droughts. Regions such as the Colombian Pacific "Pacific Region (Colombia)") and the Amazon are the most affected, where communities lose their homes and livelihoods.[31].
• - Climate migration: The lack of access to drinking water and arable land generates forced migrations to urban areas, increasing pressure on public services such as health and housing in cities such as Bogotá, Cali and Medellín. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that by 2050, more than 1 million Colombians could be forced to migrate internally due to the effects of climate change.[32].
• - Food Security: Food insecurity is a growing problem due to droughts and loss of agricultural productivity. According to the FAO report Overview of Food and Nutritional Security in Latin America and the Caribbean, 27% of the Colombian population faces some level of food insecurity, especially in departments such as La Guajira, Chocó and Córdoba "Córdoba (Colombia)").[33].
Environmental Impacts on Society
The loss of natural ecosystems not only reduces biodiversity, but also limits ecosystem services that benefit human communities, these can be reflected in the following aspects:
• - 
Páramo "Páramo (biogeography)") of Consuelo, Boyacá, Colombia.
Moors and water: The moors, which provide more than 70% of drinking water in Colombia, are at risk due to increasing temperatures and the expansion of the agricultural frontier. According to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), close to 50% of the country's moors "Páramo (biogeography)") have been intervened, compromising the water resource for more than 20 million people in cities such as Bogotá and Bucaramanga.[34].
• - Deforestation: Deforestation and the degradation of tropical forests not only increase carbon emissions, but also affect indigenous and rural communities "Pueblo (rural population)") that depend on these ecosystems. Between 2020 and 2022, Colombia lost more than 400,000 hectares of forest due to activities such as illegal logging and livestock expansion.[34].
Food Safety
Climate change directly threatens food security in Colombia, especially affecting the most vulnerable populations. Extreme rains, prolonged droughts and changes in weather patterns negatively impact staple food crops such as corn, rice and vegetables, generating significant economic losses and shortages.[35].
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, water stress, which has intensified due to climatic variations, has reduced agricultural production by 20% in key regions such as the Eastern Plains "Orinoquía Region (Colombia)") and the Atlantic Coast, mainly affecting the production of rice, corn and cassava. This phenomenon is linked to alterations in precipitation patterns "Precipitation (meteorology)"), which modify the temporal distribution of rainfall "Precipitation (meteorology)"), affecting the agricultural cycle.[35].
In turn, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that water scarcity has generated a drop in crop yields, especially in the regions of the Colombian Caribbean and the Eastern Plains. Prolonged droughts in these areas, coupled with flash floods, contribute to crop failure, affecting the food security of rural communities.[33].
The economic impact of this food crisis is considerable. Since 2020, basic food prices have increased by 15% on average, which has generated an increase in the cost of living and disproportionately affects the poorest populations. According to the Agricultural Rural Planning Unit (UPRA), regions affected by the decrease in agricultural production face high levels of food insecurity, particularly in rural areas where income alternatives are limited.[36].
In addition, climatic alterations also affect artisanal fishing, an important source of protein "Protein (nutrient)") for coastal populations. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) has reported that rising ocean temperatures are affecting fish populations in the Caribbean region "Caribbean (region)"), which increases the vulnerability of communities that depend on this resource.[37].
