Uruguayan politicians and citizens must be aware of the threats of climate change, especially for the coastal areas, says Pablo Mandeville, the United Nations permanent representative in this small South American country. “Climate change is a reality that already is taking a toll. Doing nothing is not an option,” the UN official told Tierramérica after speaking Aug. 9 before the Chamber of Deputies science and technology commission.

Mandeville stressed that 70 percent of Uruguay's gross domestic product comes from the coastal zones, which are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels caused by polar ice melt.

Adaptive measures must be taken, although those depend on conducting a previous independent study, he said.

Uruguay is complying with the Kyoto Protocol on climate change; the principal violators of its rules are “the countries of the North,” said Mandeville.