Resettling the First American ‘Climate Refugees’

Louisiana officials have been coping with some of the fastest rates of land loss in the world — an area the size of Delaware has disappeared from south Louisiana since the 1930s. 

With a first-of-its-kind “climate resilience” grant to resettle the native residents, of the Isle de Jean Charles, La., Washington is ready to help.

But even a plan like this — which would move only about 60 people — has been hard to pull off. Three previous resettlement efforts dating back to 2002 failed after they became mired in logistical and political complications. The current plan faces all the same challenges, illustrating the limitations of resettlement on any larger scale.