From heavy rains and hurricanes to prolonged droughts and extreme heat, the effects of climate change in Puerto Rico are becoming increasingly evident. For many, these alterations are of great concern, but there is still no study detailing their impact on the mental and emotional health of the island's population.

Faced with this reality, the organization Amigxs del M.A.R. launched “Enraizando ante la Crisis Climática,” a research project aimed at learning about the effects of environmental phenomena and government management on the thoughts, feelings and behavior of residents.

This was stated by Rueanna Haynes, an expert in climate governance who was on the island to present the keynote address at the Caribe Fest event, focused on the climate crisis.

Climate governance expert Rueanna Haynes warned that as part of the effects of global climate change, Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico could see their coastal communities disappear, fresh water become too salty to be consumed, and temperatures so high that survival will be difficult or, in some cases, impossible.

With Hurricane Maria as the backdrop, representatives from 114 universities in Puerto Rico, Japan, United States and Bahamas committed to creating a consortium to help redefine the rol of higher education institutions in the face of disaster and to foster community resilience. They were joined by more than 70 government agencies and non-profits. That was the conclusion of “RISE 2019 National Conference: Transforming University Engagement in Pre- and Post-Disaster Environments: Lessons from Puerto Rico”, recently held at the State University of New York in Albany.