“History is a vast early warning system.”
Norman Cousins, Journalist and Author
Shipping goods by sea keeps the world economy afloat. The man-made canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is one of the most strategic in the world, but recently, severe drought has caused a logjam. Is the drought affecting the Panama Canal a sign of disruptions to come?
When a container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal in 2021, it sparked a lot of memes, but was no joke for the world economy. While the situation in Panama isn’t as dire, drought is restricting passage, and the slowdown is having an impact on global supply chains.
Central America has been experiencing severe drought since early last year. Although it was exacerbated recently by El Niño, the region has also been feeling the effects of climate change. In addition to all the other challenges posed by drought, a continued disruption of this canal would be painful for the global economy.
Drought and the Panama Canal:
- In 2023, 14,000 vessels passed through the canal
- Passing ships through requires fresh water from two artificial lakes
- The canal area has been experiencing its lowest water levels since opening
- Due to drought, the number of ships able to pass each day was cut from 39 to 24
- Some ships have been forced to change their routes, driving up both time and expense
- Panama is now considering adding a dry canal to help move cargo
A sign of disruptions to come?
May is typically the start of rainy season in Central America, and El Niño is officially over, so hopefully there will be some relief coming. However, this is an example of extreme weather events on the rise throughout the world. The impacts of climate change will be felt far and wide, and in unexpected ways. Solving it with urgency will not only reduce disruptions like this, but will give us all a better future.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.