Cristian in Guatemala talks about climate change

Cristian from Panajachel

Hi, my name is Cristian and I now live with my family in Panajachel, Guatemala. Originally we are from San Gabriel, but my mom got a good job here. I am the youngest of five siblings and my father passed away when I was five months old. Panajachel is an incredibly beautiful city that attracts tourists from all over the world for its magnificent lake surrounded by three volcanoes.

Effects of climate change in Panajachel

We are feeling the effects of climate change here. We have more storms and tempests that destroy both nature and our cities. Houses and roads collapse when it rains, which is dangerous for everyone. In school, we often discuss the environment. My teacher has told us that the rubbish we throw away can be washed away by the rain and flow into the lake. Plastic and litter pollute the soil, water and harm wildlife. We also learn that deforestation and littering contribute to climate change.

I think it's very sad when animals die because they eat garbage or are affected by storms. It's important to take care of nature, not to litter and to care about animals. I usually pick up rubbish when I see it and make sure it goes to the right place. I feed our ducks and chickens and play with our dogs to make sure they are happy and healthy!

Society's efforts against climate change

I know that there are organisations working against climate change. They are protecting nature, the lake, forests and animals, but there is still a lot of work to do. Unfortunately, I still see people polluting both water and nature. This is something we all need to stop!

This text was originally published on January 1, 2021.