Panama Canal’s Water Woes Threaten International Trade Flow

The Panama Canal has operated as a gateway between the Atlantic to the Pacific for more than a century, relying on water to raise and lower the ships that help fuel international trade. But a recent drought has disrupted the normal functioning of the Canal’s locks, cutting into Panama’s revenue and also causing problems for global supply chains.

While Panama has a naturally wet climate, its rainfall has fallen to 30% below average this year. Although this has been partially attributed to the impact of the current El Niño weather event, the reduced precipitation follows nearly all current climate change projections for the region.

The drought is also forcing the Panamanian government to confront an already precarious balance between the needs of the canal and its residents. There are plans to build a new reservoir, but without a sustainable water supply, the canal could face increasing competition from alternative trade routes.

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President Biden’s 2023 Women, Peace, and Security Strategy (WPS)

The Biden Administration’s 2023 WPS strategy emphasizes the importance of women’s meaningful participation, leadership, and engagement in decision-making as “a moral and strategic imperative for U.S. foreign policy and national security.”

Shifts in the international landscape—including climate change—are reflected in the strategy’s  five core focal points: promoting participation, protection of human rights, relief, response, and recovery, integration and institutionalization, and building partnerships to enhance WPS principles across broader policies and strategies.

The Biden Administration has already taken significant steps to advance its WPS agenda. Among these ongoing efforts are seeking improved women’s participation in the U.S. military, strengthening women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution in Ukraine, and embedding the WPS in defense engagements and agendas on the global stage.

READ | What Does a Biden-Harris White House Mean for Women and Girls? Everything.

African Weather Perils: Sparse Weather Stations Put Lives at Risk

Severe flooding and landslides in May near Lake Kivu (which is shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) resulted in at least 600 deaths and significant damage, primarily due to a lack of early warning systems.

Many African nations lack access to both sufficient weather data and early warning systems. The result is a disproportionate number of flood-related deaths in these areas. The Global Commission on Adaptation notes that just 24 hours of notice before an extreme weather event can reduce total damage by 30%.

These disasters are a reminder that investment in weather observation and early warnings is crucial for Africa and other vulnerable regions to protect human life and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events linked to climate change.

READ | Water @ Wilson Event | Water, Peace, & Security: New Tools for a New Climate