If people had a crystal ball (one that worked), they would make decisions that would improve their life experience. Climate forecasts –although they do not have such power– can help us to be better prepared in the face of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, or hurricanes, that put our lives or belongings at risk. To support decision-makers and also the population of the Selva Maya, the meteorological services of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico have joined forces and, together, are preparing seasonal forecasts for the Selva Maya region.
The actors began this collaborative process with the preparation of the first two quarterly editions of the Forecast in 2020 (May–July, and August–October). It intends to provide decision-makers at different levels with relevant information on the seasonal climate outlook of the Selva Maya region. This collaboration is carried out with the support of the Project “Fostering the Monitoring of Biodiversity and Climate Change in the Selva Maya Region”, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and with funds from the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
As well as being important for the sustainable development of the Selva Maya region, this collaboration between the three countries –Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico– contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on a global level. Within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, several SDGs were defined, among others Climate Action (SDG 13). One of the goals of this SDG is to improve human and institutional education, sensitivity, and capacity to adapt, as well as mitigating the effects of climate change. As part of the efforts made at various levels to meet the goal, this regional forecast supports this SDG by providing information to better prepare decision-makers and the population in the face of climate change.
Thus, while there is no crystal ball to foresee the future, we are already working together to improve people’s lives.
