Climate Vulnerability — What I Learned in Costa Rica
No one is prepared. It would not take much of an increase in temperature to become unliveable.
My time in a faraway, less prosperous part of Costa Rica taught me something crucial about climate change: our incredible vulnerability to a climate change heatwave. The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is very humid and can get quite uncomfortable in the afternoons. I would sweat just sitting in the shade in a chair. My northern blood got very uncomfortable from 10 to 3 if the sun was out, and then relief would come with clouds or evening. The sun mercifully set quickly and reliably around 5:45pm for the month we were there.
During that month, I saw among the people only three air-conditioned places — the bank, the pharmacy, and one real estate office. I imagine the very expensive resorts (upwards of $500 per night) were air-conditioned as well, but I did not go into those to see them. Where the people live, there was none. Essentially, everyone lives outdoors. Most homes and businesses have no windows, just screens. Nature is very close at all times. The sea surf crashes every hour of every day. Further in, the jungle sounds never stop. In the open air, you never forget the closeness of nature.
