environment
February 15, 2026
Vulnerable Colombia
Former Colombian Minister of Environment, Manuel Rodríguez, stated in 2021: 'Colombia is one of the 11 countries most vulnerable to climate change in the world, according to the U.S. Intelligence Council. Colombia is the 7th largest economy in the world with the highest risks due to climate change, according to the Swiss Re Institute.' The most serious aspect is that climate change is here to stay, especially given the non-compliance with obligations to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, responsible for climate change, by the European Union, which signed the Paris Agreement in 2015.
TL;DR
- Colombia is among the 11 most vulnerable countries to climate change globally and the 7th economy with the highest climate change risks.
- Climate change refers to the uncontrolled increase in global temperature due to greenhouse gas concentration.
- The Paris Agreement aims to prevent global temperature rise from exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
- Extreme climate events, 'El Niño' (drought) and 'La Niña' (heavy rains), are becoming more frequent, stronger, and unpredictable.
- Colombia has suffered severe impacts from past 'El Niño' and 'La Niña' events, leading to the establishment of disaster management agencies.
- Recent atypical rainy weather, attributed to climate change, has overwhelmed institutional capacities, exacerbated by corruption within the Ungrd.