On Friday, May 30th, approximately 1,200 members of the Guna indigenous community from the island of Gardi Sugdub began preparations to relocate to the mainland due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. This marks the first time in Panama’s history that an entire community will be displaced because of environmental changes.
The inhabitants of Gardi Sugdub, one of 49 inhabited islands in the Guna Yala region, have lived in increasingly precarious conditions as their homes are regularly flooded. The island is only about 400 yards long and 150 yards wide, with most of it sitting less than a meter above sea level. The rising sea levels, coupled with stronger storms and tidal surges, have made life on the island unsustainable.
The Panamanian government has constructed a new settlement, Nuevo Carti, at a cost of $12.2 million to accommodate the displaced community from the island. The new homes on the mainland feature modern amenities, including water, electricity, and improved sanitation. Each house includes two bedrooms, a living and dining area, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a laundry room. The settlement also includes common cultural spaces and facilities for people with disabilities.
President Laurentino Cortizo addressed the community during the presentation of the new homes, stating, “The climate crisis that the world is experiencing…has forced us here in Panama to move the population from the island to this urban development of about 300 homes.”
While the move offers improved living conditions, the transition is bittersweet for many residents. Nadín Morales, 24, expressed mixed emotions, saying, “We’re a little sad, because we’re going to leave behind the homes we’ve known all our lives, the relationship with the sea, where we fish, where we bathe, and where the tourists come, but the sea is sinking the island little by little.”
The Guna community has a long history of adapting to changes. Two decades ago, they began considering relocation due to overcrowding on the island. Climate change has accelerated this decision, highlighting the urgent need to address environmental impacts globally.
Steven Paton, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s physical monitoring program in Panama, emphasized the broader implications, noting, “The islands on average are only a half-meter above sea level, and as that level rises, sooner or later the Gunas are going to have to abandon all of the islands almost surely by the end of the century or earlier.”
The Panamanian government estimates that relocating the 38,000 residents who will be affected by rising sea levels in the near future will cost approximately $1.2 billion. This significant investment underscores the urgent need for global efforts to mitigate climate change and its effects on vulnerable communities.
