Within El Salvador

Jose Medina Mendoza

Bishop Hartley Highschool

Environmental Science

Mr. Kraus

February 16, 2023

El Salvador, a small Central American country located on the Pacific coast, is known for

the landscape, food, and rough history. With a beautiful geography that includes mountains,

volcanoes, and beautiful beaches, El Salvador is a paradise for outdoor people. The country is

also known for its music and dancing, with traditional dances and lively music festivals

celebrated throughout the year. Economically, El Salvador has a mixed economy that relies on

agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Coffee, sugar, and textiles are some of the main

exports, while the tourism industry continues to grow as more visitors discover the beauty of this

country. El Salvador has faced its challenges, like a civil war that lasted for over a decade in the

1980s. Despite the struggles, the country has made good progress in recent years in terms of

economic development and political stability. I chose to focus on El Salvador because of its

beauty, culture, and complex history. I believe that understanding this small but resilient country

can give not only me but others valuable information into the issues within El Salvador.
 El Salvador may be small, but it's packed with natural resources. Think of fertile land

that's great for farming, forests with timber, and gold and silver minerals. Plus, it has geothermal

energy and hydropower possibilities. El Salvador's economy leans much on agriculture. They

focus on growing coffee, sugar, and corn. This sector ties into a large chunk of their GDP and

many people have jobs in this field. Farming, sadly, has caused bad effects on the environment.

Using stuff like pesticides and fertilizers has dirtied our water and soil. This hurts people's health

and how they make money. Also, cutting down many trees for more farmland has harmed our

nature’s diversity and caused soil to wash away. Not just farming, El Salvador's factory sector

also adds to the pollution problem. Mainly, the clothing industry that makes export goods. They

are known as one of the top polluters in the country. How? The leftovers of their making process

usually find their way into rivers. This causes pollution and harms the environment. Also, other

production areas, like plastics, chemicals, and metal stuff, add to El Salvador's pollution too.

In El Salvador, each person makes less greenhouse gas. Yet, it's a big deal. It mainly

comes from cars, making energy, and farming. The El Salvador government is trying to solve

this. They push sources of renewable energy like heat from the earth and waterpower. They also

try to lower emissions from cars and other areas. El Salvador, known for its rising tech sector,

focuses on green development. Using their skills in renewable energy, handling waste wisely,

and promoting eco-friendly business. But hurdles do exist. They face issues like sparse funding,

insufficient support structures, and red tape. Despite these obstacles, the trend is positive. More

people are rallying towards protecting the environment. There's a wave of groups and plans

aiming for a cleaner and more eco-friendly future for El Salvador.

lead the nation's political scene: the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and the

Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). Even with an aim for honest elections,

some people doubt the government's integrity. When it comes to steering and spurring the

economy, the state faces challenges. Poverty, crime, and violence are big obstacles. Yet, enticing

foreign businesses and encouraging varied economic activities bring hope for increased

prosperity and employment. In El Salvador, people worry about crime, gangs, and dishonesty.

They also struggle to get simple things like schooling and doctor's visits. All these worries make

them stand up and ask for changes from their leaders. El Salvador has been working on how they

treat the environment. They've made laws for safe nature, smart growth, and dealing with

weather changes. However, they're not very good at making sure those laws are followed, which

still hurts the earth and adds pollution.

El Salvador inked various world pacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These

include the Paris Agreement and the Central American Integration System (SICA) Framework

Agreement on Climate Change. Commitments are to cut emissions, also to adopt steps

responding to climate change impacts. El Salvador had success, somewhat, in renewable energy

sourcing. Steps towards climate adaptation happened too. Still, hurdles like scarce resources and

political unrest made full pledge-honoring tough.

In short, El Salvador's growth and tackling of major hurdles like boosting the economy,

public worries, safeguarding nature, and climate change control are guided by its politics and

law. To solve these problems, they'll need a determined political stance, efficient administration,

and teamwork with worldwide associates. They have a strong leader, and he is special so I know

with the struggles this country is going through he will power through it.
 Works Cited

El Salvador. (2024, February 7). Retrieved February 14, 2024, from https://www.cia.gov/the-

world-factbook/countries/el-Salvador/

Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2024, from

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/elsalvador/overview

“World Bank Group - International Development, Poverty, & Sustainability.” World Bank,

https://www.worldbank.org/en/home. Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.

“Human Rights in El Salvador.” Amnesty International, 9 May 2024,

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/americas/central-america-and-the-caribbean/el-

salvador/

“Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | Climate Watch.” Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | b

Climate Watch, https://www.climatewatchdata.org/ghg-emissions-data/countries/SLV.

Accessed 15 Feb. 2024.