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Key Risk
• Death, injury and loss of other valuables. Security.
• Destruction of infrastructure and communication
systems.
• Economic loss, food insecurity.
• Damage of communication and transport
infrastructure.
• Economic loss and exacerbation of poverty due
to lack of irrigation and subsequent crop failure/
lower yield.
• Risk of increased malnutrition due to acute crop
failure, risk of loss of life.
• Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Water shortages, risks to crops and health.
• Infectious disease.
• Exacerbatedwater conflicts and social andpolitical
unrest. The most vulnerable living in border areas
might become increasingly vulnerable in terms of
water “ownership”.
• Economic loss.
• Decreased capacity for hydropower production.
Summary of key hazards, vulnerabilities and risks
(continued)
➔
Climate Hazards
Floods
(continued)
• Increase in frequency
of landslides
• Increase of erosion
and soil degradation
Droughts
• Decrease in annual
precipitation
and consequent
decreasing river flow
(accompanied by
an ever-increasing
demand for water
and energy)
Key Vulnerability
• People living on steep hillsides. Communities with frail
infrastructure anddegraded ecosystems are particularly vulnerable.
NB Rainfall-induced landslides are very common, with above-
average rainfall having been linked to landslide activity (see
Kirschbaum et al., 2012). However, both natural factors and
human factors, including human (mis)management of land
and forest areas, are also contributing factors; the interaction of
climate hazards in combination with land-use practices can make
landslides and erosion much more severe.
• Agricultural communities are most vulnerable.
• Lack of good land management (both the land itself (pasture
and agriculture) and the management of livestock).
• Infrastructure and general environment in steep erosion-
prone areas.
• Exposed areas (mainly Altiplano and Venezuela) that already
have low water availability.
• Agricultural crops need more water to grow but there is a lack
of irrigation infrastructure.
• Cities and communities dependent on riverine water supply
for drinking, hygiene and irrigation.
• Urban and rural communities dependent on hydropower
production.
• Poorer and more vulnerable populations (e.g. elderly) in rural
and urban settings are more susceptible to food insecurity,
decreased sanitation.
• Biodiversity and ecosystems that need fresh water resources
and forest ecosystems will be under stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENTAL
SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONAL