A bleak future looms for five cities in South America in 2100: the impact of climate change is taking shape. Urgent measures are necessary in the face of the threat of flooding.

A grim outlook looms over five major cities in South America for the year 2100, according to the alarming findings of climate change experts. The rise in sea levels, resulting from the consequences of disruptions in the global climate, threatens to submerge Barranquilla in Colombia, areas near Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, the popular cities of Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre in Brazil, Punta del Este in Paraguay, and areas of Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires in Argentina. The Magdalena River, whose mouth is located in Barranquilla, exposes the Colombian city to constant flood risks, while in Venezuela, the intricate geography around Lake Maracaibo faces a similar situation. Brazil is not spared from this grim fate, as Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre face the possibility of being engulfed by the sea, along with Punta del Este in Paraguay and various areas in Argentina. The magnitude of this potential catastrophe not only translates into the loss of homes and livelihoods for millions of people but also represents a severe blow to the economies of the affected countries. Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina are urged to take urgent measures against this imminent threat. Global warming, the origin of this apocalyptic scenario, is causing the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, leading to an increase in ocean levels. However, negligent management of water reserves and lakes, as well as the overexploitation of underground water resources, also contribute to this crisis. This is not an isolated problem in South America, as regions worldwide face similar risks. In Central America, countries like Mexico, Nicaragua, and Honduras also see their coasts threatened. The Yucatan Peninsula, for example, could be submerged under water in the coming decades, with projections indicating a rise of between 0.6 to 2.1 meters in sea levels by the end of the century. Freshwater, vital for human survival, is not only found in large glaciers but also in underground reserves. The South American region is home to the Guarani Aquifer, one of the largest freshwater reserves on the planet, essential for the regional ecosystem and local agriculture. In the face of this worrying scenario, awareness of climate change and the adoption of measures on a global scale become imperative to avoid a future where entire cities disappear beneath the relentless waters of the ocean. The responsibility falls on all of us to preserve the future of our planet and future generations.