"Panama’s economy relies heavily on the Panama canal – and the canal is acutely vulnerable to the climate crisis. The 50-mile waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans accounts for up to 7.7% of Panama’s GDP. The freshwater lakes that supply the canal’s locks, Gatún and Alajuela, also provide drinking water for about 2 million people – nearly half of Panama’s population. A sizeable chunk of the country’s hydroelectricity generation also depends on the watershed." https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/oct/20/panama-canal-environment-water-drought-el-nino-farming