island displacement

Panama prepares to evacuate first island in face of rising sea levels

As I stare out at the flat, shimmering expanse of the ocean, a deep sense of foreboding settles upon me. The news of Panama preparing to evacuate its first island due to rising sea levels is a stark reminder of the harsh reality of climate change. The cost, both financially and emotionally, is staggering; $1.2 billion just for 38,000 inhabitants is a number that is hard to comprehend. Countries around the world are ill-prepared for the true cost of climate change, especially the impact it will have on displacing people from their homes.

Growing up in a time where the divide between land and sea seemed concrete, it is disheartening to realize how fragile that notion truly is.… Continue reading

John Q. Hosedrinker Jun 4, 2024