The impact of increasingly intense hurricanes, the heat islands in the region and changes in rainfall patterns, would be part of a “catastrophic scenario” that is being forseen for the Yucatan, unless eco-technological alternatives are not being taken soon, to mitigate the effects of climate change.
This was noted by Omar Masera Cerutti, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 2007.
The specialist offered the keynote lecture “Bioenergy, sustainability and mitigation of climate change”, within the framework of the 40th anniversary week of the Center for Scientific Research of Yucatan (CICY).
The member of the Institute of Research in Ecosystems and Sustainability considered that these consequences have been visible for several years in various regions of Mexico, including the Yucatan of course. And stated that this type of phenomena could increase, if society remains oblivious to what happens.
She insisted that the experts’ predictions indicate that these effects will be much more evident in the following years, affecting biodiversity and the economy with a greater need for migration to other regions, given the imminent increase in sea level on the coasts, which will no longer be “habitable.”
The expert stressed that the Yucatan could become a prominent entity, at the forefront of eco-technological alternatives to mitigate climate change, as it has resources in terms of biomass and abundant energy , with waste from the food industry, which could be used to generate clean energy.
Areas in red would be totally flooded (Sipse)
“The State of Yucatan has the possibility of becoming a role model in Mexico on how to move fairly to a pattern of more sustainable use of energy. Yucatan depends a lot on oil and gas, but no other energy sources at the industrial level, ” he added.
Omar Masera Cerutti exemplified that the heat islands is a phenomenon currently affecting the Yucatan, which has been growing over the years and is already reflected in the high demand for air conditioners in private homes and businesses.
“The demand is tremendous, because more energy is needed to run the air conditioners and the power comes mostly from oil that in turn causes more climate change problems, so we need to modify our alternatives. Yucatan needs to immerse into sustainable and renewable sources of energy,” the specialist concluded.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom
