A vanishing coast: the loss of beaches in Puerto Rico due to climate change

Abstract

The beaches in Puerto Rico are threatened in the 21st century by natural and anthropogenic factors. The phenomenon is not exclusive to the Isla del Encanto or the Caribbean islands. Nor is it something new under the sun, but as the effects of climate change become more evident in tourist, residential or industrial areas, its impacts tend to be more palpable. The rise in sea level together with coastal erosion are phenomena that continue to expand more and more and these do not discriminate against social position, political ideologies, ethnicity or gender. Its effects have been felt in different parts of the greater Caribbean and in many cases measures have been taken to mitigate its effects. But, Puerto Rico and its islands, has done enough? Everything seems to indicate that, although science and history have been documenting and educating about the transformations that Puerto Rican beaches have had, there is still a lot of work to be done in this regard. With this essay we intend to examine from the perspective of environmental history two examples of the changes in the beaches in the last 70 years. In light of new research such as the Fourth National Climate Assessment published in 2018 and the study on the State of the Coasts of P.R. after the passage of Hurricane María, carried out by the oceanographer geologist Dr. Maritza Barretto Orta, we seek to learn what political, economic or social factor or factors have hindered the implementation of mitigation and adaptation measures in the face of coastal erosion and the rise in sea level on the Puerto Rican coasts.