A potential water shortage caused by a historic drought in the region is posing a slight competition between transit and human consumption, according to Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, an official with the Panama Canal Authority. The Panama Canal, which relies on fresh water from a nearby lake, is experiencing a significant decrease in water levels due to the prolonged drought, affecting vessel navigation and local communities’ access to drinking water. In August, the average wait time for ships at the canal increased from less than a week to around ten days, leading to a bottleneck where more than 160 ships were waiting. To alleviate the situation, an increased amount of fresh water has been used, exacerbating the impact of the drought.
The current drought shares similarities with the twenty-year-long drought that has affected the Colorado River and caused Nevada’s Lake Mead to reach only 34% of its capacity. However, unlike Lake Mead, the lake in Panama plays a crucial role in global supply chains, as the Panama Canal handles approximately 40% of global cargo ship traffic. The pandemic’s impact on the supply chain, coupled with the water shortage, could potentially result in further increases in global inflation. The local residents in Panama are also facing a scarcity of fresh water, leading to a “slight competition.”
Data from the US space agency NASA confirmed that this summer has been the hottest on record, with ocean temperatures consistently reaching record highs for five consecutive months. The United Nations estimates that natural disasters, often intensified by climate change, displace over 20 million people worldwide each year. The prominent discussion of human influence on climate change during the first Republican presidential primary debate even garnered attention from Fox News moderators, although one candidate dismissed the issue as a “hoax.”
As a solution to the water shortage, Panama officials are planning to spend $2 billion to redirect more rivers towards the man-made lake that supplies the canal. However, such actions pose potential repercussions on the ecosystem. In the meantime, the bottleneck is expected to result in tens of millions of dollars in revenue loss for Panama. Two-thirds of the ships traversing the canal are connected to the US economy, making it the most cost-effective method for transporting grain and other food supplies.
Addressing the water shortage and its consequences is a complex challenge, compounded by the involvement of powerful individuals who deny the reality of climate change. The denial of climate change by lawmakers in Congress and those running for the Republican presidential nomination worsens the situation. Electing leaders who acknowledge the US’s contribution to the problem is necessary. An example of this contribution is the construction of the canal, which was not only a product of American ingenuity but also of American imperialism, with the US holding control until 1999. The climate changes resulting from US industrialization and consumption may now lead to a competition between transit and human consumption, or capitalism and humanity, as it has always been.
While finding answers to this challenge may not be easy, it is imperative to elect leaders who recognize that we are part of the problem. The impact of our economy on water usage in Panama is undeniable. Climate change deniers must face the reality that they are running out of places to look away from the consequences of their actions. It is not only counterproductive but also immoral for those in power in the US to ignore the issue.
Source: Los Angeles Times/TNS
Credit: The Star : News Feed
