The Long Goodbye: Resettlement in the Age of Climate Change :: Mmegi Online

The reality of coastal land loss in Louisiana is eye-opening - especially if you have memories of what it once was, as I do. Parents can no longer show their children the places they once lived and played because the land has eroded away.

People can no longer reside where they are subject to growing risks and dwindling opportunities. The magnitude of change that has occurred just in my lifetime demonstrates that the idea of “holding the line” on coastal land loss is not a viable option for Louisiana. The well-known boot shape of Louisiana is no more. We have lost our sole.

The question we now face is not whether to accept this change – the change is ongoing and we are living with this loss and the pain that it brings. The question is how do we adapt to minimise future losses and preserve our unique cultures, histories, and communities? This is the question we have the power to answer.

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