Panama will lose coastal areas and islands by 2050 due to the effects of climate change, registering an estimated sea level rise of between 0.56 and 0.76 meters in the coming years, the Ministry of the Environment pointed out today.
In a statement, the Panamanian government confirmed the severe vulnerability of its country to the impact of climate change, referring to the results of a study called “Development of a database of marine dynamics off the coast of Panama”, to assess the impacts and vulnerability to due to sea level rise.
The statement emphasizes that the areas with the most impacts will be: Sheep Island, Changuinola, Bastimento, tourist areas in Boca Chica, Pedregal, Kusapin, Tobobe, Rio Hato, Nata, Aguadulce, Paris, Parita, Llano Bonito, Iguana Island, Compared with Portobelo, Santa Isabel, La Palma, Garachine, Punta Chame, Lion Beach, Tocumen and Juan Diaz.
Ligia Castro, Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment, indicated that it is essential to identify and prepare for the possible impacts of climate change in order to build a planned adaptation.
“It is well known that seawater will penetrate areas further and further from the coast, which can generate catastrophic consequences such as erosion, flooding of wetlands, pollution of aquifers and agricultural land and loss of fish habitat, biodiversity, infrastructure and will force all coastal regions to adapt and the poorest and most vulnerable populations may become climate refugees,” said Castro.
