This is what sea level rise will do to coastal cities
Summary
TLDRThe video script discusses the imminent threat of sea level rise due to climate change, with a focus on coastal cities like New York and Miami. It highlights the potential for four feet of sea level rise by 2100 and the economic and infrastructural challenges this poses. The script also covers New York's ambitious $10 billion plan to protect Lower Manhattan and the reality of climate migration, emphasizing the urgency and the need for proactive measures to safeguard coastal areas.
Takeaways
- 🌊 Rising sea levels are a significant concern for coastal cities, with some expected to experience dramatic changes within the next 100 years.
- 🧊 Melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are likened to unplugging freezers, indicating that the process of sea level rise is irreversible.
- 🌍 Climate Central predicts a minimum of four feet of sea level rise by 2100, based on current greenhouse gas emissions.
- 🏙️ Coastal cities like Miami are already experiencing the effects of sea level rise, with water regularly flooding city streets during high tides.
- 🏠 The impact of sea level rise is not only environmental but also economic, as property values in some areas have dropped due to increased flooding.
- 📊 The Surging Seas visualizer by Climate Central illustrates the potential impact of sea level rise on various coastal cities around the world.
- 🌉 New York City has unveiled an ambitious plan to fortify lower Manhattan against rising sea levels, with an estimated cost of 10 billion dollars.
- 🛡️ The plan includes building land out into the East River and installing flood gates to protect against storm surges and regular flooding.
- 💡 The urgency for climate adaptation measures is driven by the economic importance of areas like Lower Manhattan, which houses a significant portion of New York City's jobs and subway lines.
- 🏞️ Some communities in the U.S. are already relocating due to rapidly eroding coasts, highlighting the reality of climate migration.
- 📈 The threat of sea level rise is not distant; it is happening now and will continue to accelerate, affecting infrastructure, property values, and coastlines.
Q & A
What is the potential impact of sea level rise on coastal cities like Florida, New York, Venice, and Alexandria in the next 100 years?
-Coastal cities are expected to undergo significant changes due to sea level rise. Florida's beaches and wetlands, as well as cities like New York, Venice, and Alexandria, which have watery boundaries, may look very different in 100 years as sea levels continue to rise.
What does Ben Strauss, CEO of Climate Central, describe as the inevitable outcome of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere?
-Ben Strauss states that the world is guaranteed to see at least four feet of sea level rise by 2100, based on the greenhouse gases that have already been emitted into the atmosphere.
How does the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica relate to the sea level rise?
-The melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is likened to unplugging rows of freezers. Once these 'freezers' are unplugged, they will continue to melt, contributing to the sea level rise.
According to the UN, how many people live in coastal areas less than 30 feet above sea level?
-The UN reports that over 600 million people live in coastal areas that are less than 30 feet above sea level, making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise.
What is the potential sea level rise expected by the end of this century according to some scientists?
-Some scientists, including Ben Strauss, are expecting a sea level rise of 10 to 20 feet or more by the end of this century if further greenhouse gas emissions continue.
What is happening in Miami that indicates the current impact of rising sea levels?
-In Miami, water is already sliding across city streets during high tides, which is a physical sign of the current impact of rising sea levels.
How has climate change affected real estate values in some neighborhoods in the United States?
-In some neighborhoods in the United States, real estate values have evaporated due to the increased frequency of floods that were previously rare or non-existent.
What is the Surging Seas visualizer created by Climate Central, and what does it show?
-The Surging Seas visualizer is a tool created by Climate Central to demonstrate how coastal cities will fare as the climate heats up. It shows how melting ice could push shorelines inland for cities like New York, New Orleans, Shanghai, and Lagos.
What is New York City's ambitious plan to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise?
-New York City has unveiled a plan to fortify Lower Manhattan by building outland into the East River by 50 to 100 feet. This is a preventative measure to keep water away from residential and commercial areas.
How much is the estimated cost of New York City's plan to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise?
-The estimated cost of New York City's plan to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise is 10 billion dollars.
What are some of the unique challenges that cities face due to sea level rise?
-Cities face unique challenges such as regular flooding of streets during high tides, impacts on underground infrastructure, subway tunnel flooding, and building foundation corrosion due to sea level rise.
What is one of the strategies New York City is considering to protect against sea level rise, aside from building out into the river?
-New York City is considering installing flood gates at critical places that would flip up during a flood to keep water out of low-lying land.
What is the economic significance of Lower Manhattan, and why is it a priority for protection against sea level rise?
-Lower Manhattan is an economic center of New York City, with one in ten jobs located there and 75% of subway lines passing through it. Protecting Lower Manhattan is crucial to maintaining the city's economic vitality.
What is the current reality of climate migration in the United States, and what does it indicate for the future?
-Climate migration is already a reality in the United States, with two communities in Alaska and Louisiana relocating due to rapidly eroding coasts. A 2018 study indicates that as many as 311,000 houses in the U.S. will be vulnerable to chronic flooding by 2045.
Why is it unlikely that cities like Manhattan would be moved due to sea level rise?
-Moving a city like Manhattan is not feasible due to the concentration of human lives and economic activity. Instead, it is expected that significant investments will be made in defending these areas against sea level rise.
How does the speed of sea level rise pose a danger, and what is the analogy used to explain this?
-The speed of sea level rise is dangerous because it can quickly disrupt infrastructure, property values, and coastlines. The analogy used is that a bullet is not dangerous when held or thrown slowly, but its speed when fired makes it lethal, similarly, the rapid change in sea levels is what makes it a threat.
Outlines
🌊 Rising Sea Levels and Coastal Cities' Future
The first paragraph discusses the potential transformation of coastal cities like Florida, New York, Venice, and Alexandria due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. It emphasizes the inevitability of four feet of sea level rise by 2100, based on current greenhouse gas emissions, and the significant impact this will have on coastal populations, with over 600 million people living in areas less than 30 feet above sea level. The paragraph introduces Ben Strauss from Climate Central, who highlights the irreversible nature of melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica. It also mentions the current issues faced by cities like Miami and the Surging Seas visualizer, which illustrates the potential effects of climate change on various coastal cities. The paragraph concludes with New York's ambitious and costly plan to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise, including land reclamation and flood gates.
🏙️ Economic Implications and Adaptation Strategies
The second paragraph delves into the economic significance of Lower Manhattan and the urgency to protect it from climate change, given its role as a major job center and transportation hub. It contrasts New York's proactive measures with the reality faced by other communities in the U.S., such as those in Alaska and Louisiana, which are already relocating due to coastal erosion. The paragraph cites a study predicting that over 311,000 houses will be at risk of chronic flooding by 2045, indicating that climate migration is an existing issue. It discusses the challenges of relocating large populations and the preference for investing in defending cities rather than moving them. The paragraph also touches on the gradual yet rapid nature of sea level rise and its potential to disrupt infrastructure, property values, and coastlines, emphasizing the need for swift and effective adaptation strategies.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sea Level Rise
💡Coastal Cities
💡Greenhouse Gases
💡Climate Change
💡Melting Ice Sheets
💡Climate Central
💡Surge Barriers
💡Climate Migration
💡Economic Vitality
💡Infrastructure
💡Adaptation Measures
Highlights
Florida's sandy beaches and wetlands, along with cities like New York, Venice, and Alexandria, are at risk of significant changes due to sea level rise in the next 100 years.
Coastal cities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with sea levels expected to rise and erode coastlines.
Ben Strauss from Climate Central suggests that four feet of sea level rise by 2100 is inevitable due to current greenhouse gas emissions.
The irreversible melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is likened to unplugging freezers, emphasizing the permanence of climate change effects.
Over 600 million people live in coastal areas less than 30 feet above sea level, according to the UN, highlighting the scale of potential displacement.
Further greenhouse gas emissions could lead to a sea level rise of 10 to 20 feet or more by the end of the century, as predicted by scientists.
Miami is already experiencing regular flooding during high tides, indicating the current reality of rising sea levels.
Climate Central's Surging Seas visualizer demonstrates the potential impact of climate change on coastal cities worldwide.
The visualizer aims to make the abstract concept of climate change more tangible and personal for individuals.
New York City has unveiled an ambitious plan to protect Lower Manhattan from rising sea levels, including land reclamation and flood gates.
The cost of New York's plan to safeguard against sea level rise is estimated at 10 billion dollars, reflecting the economic implications of climate change mitigation.
Jainey Bavishi and her team conducted a comprehensive study on the climate risks faced by Lower Manhattan, including sea level rise, storm surge, and extreme heat.
The plan to protect Lower Manhattan is crucial for maintaining the economic vitality of New York City, as it is a major employment and transportation hub.
In contrast to New York, many communities in the U.S. are relocating due to the lack of resources for such extensive preventative measures.
A 2018 study predicts that by 2045, 311,000 houses in the U.S. will be vulnerable to chronic flooding, indicating the urgency of climate migration.
Policy makers in New York are focused on avoiding the chaos of displacing nearly nine million people, emphasizing the importance of proactive climate defense.
Sea levels are not expected to rise suddenly but will gradually seep into our lives, disrupting infrastructure and property values over time.
The speed of climate change and sea level rise is considered the most dangerous aspect, as it can quickly outpace our ability to adapt.
Transcripts
- Picture a map of Florida
with its long sandy beaches and wetlands,
or cities like New York, Venice, and Alexandria,
all metropolises with some pretty watery boundaries.
Now, try to picture what these might look like in 100 years.
The Sunshine State might look very different
than it does today.
The same goes for Manhattan Island or Mumbai.
This is our best guess of a warmer future,
one where sea levels are gnawing away
at the corners of our carefully drawn maps.
Coastal cities are first in line for big changes,
and some that can afford it are gearing up to spend billions
to make sure they survive.
- You might think of the great ice sheets
in Greenland and Antarctica as giant banks of freezers.
And we're running down
those rows of freezers unplugging them.
- That's Ben Strauss,
CEO and Chief Scientist of Climate Central.
They're a non-profit organization
that researches and reports on climate change
including sea level rise.
Researchers like Ben have concluded that the world
is guaranteed to see four feet of sea level rise by 2100
just based on greenhouse gases
we've already put into the atmosphere.
- Once we unplug a freezer, it's unplugged.
You can't plug it back in and it's going to melt.
- That's pretty scary, especially if you live on a coast.
And according to the UN,
more than 600 million people live in coastal areas
that are less than 30 feet above sea level.
And any amount of further emissions
will cause sea levels to rise higher,
with scientists like Ben expecting a rise
of 10 to 20 feet or more by the end of this century.
Some coastal areas are already struggling.
During some high tides in Miami,
water already slides across city streets.
This is happening now
and it's a physical sign of rising sea levels.
- There are already neighborhoods in the United States
that I know about where real estate value has evaporated
because floods that used to be rare or non-existent
now happen multiple times a year.
It's a block here or a block there,
but it's really affecting people.
- Climate Central created a visualizer called Surging Seas
to drive this point home.
It shows how coastal cities will fare
as the climate heats up.
Look at New York, New Orleans, Shanghai or Lagos,
and you'll see how melting ice could push shorelines inland.
It's one of a few projects online
that are designed to make the threat feel immediate.
- I think climate change tends to be such an abstract
and distant seeming problem for most people.
We want to make it as real and personal as possible.
People being able to look up their own neighborhood,
their own home helps to do that.
- Here in New York, the sea level is actually rising faster
than in lots of other parts of the country.
We did a whole video about it.
Anyway, earlier this year,
the city unveiled an ambitious plan
to keep the lower part of Manhattan safe.
- I often said after Sandy, you don't find a lot
of climate change deniers in New York City.
- They plan to fortify the city.
It may actually build outland into the East River
by 50 to 100 feet.
It's not the first time
that New York has reclaimed land from water,
but prior expansions
were mostly done to increase living space,
this one will be to keep the water
away from our living rooms.
The plan will cost an estimated 10 billion dollars.
- We can't overstate the disruption that it would cause
to take no action, so we absolutely have to act.
- Jainey Bavishi is the Director
of the Mayor's Office of Resiliency.
Her team collaborated on a big study
that looked into the climate risks faced by Lower Manhattan.
- So we didn't just look at sea level rise and storm surge,
but we also looked at (mumbling) precipitation
and extreme heat.
And across the city,
we're taking steps to address these multiple hazards
and multiple risks that we face from climate change.
- For anyone living near the coast,
sea level rise presents problems.
But for cities, the issues are really unique.
- Imagine water pouring into the streets on a regular basis
just during high tide.
You open your door
and you walk into a street filled with water.
It would impact underground infrastructure that we rely on.
Imagine subway tunnels getting flooded on a regular basis
or the foundations of buildings corroding.
- In addition to building out into the river,
the city plans to install flood gates at critical places
that would flip up in a flood
to keep water out of low-lying land.
But for now, these plans are still just concepts.
They aren't even sure how they'll pay for it yet,
but private funding is still on the table.
- We're not planning for development,
but that also depends on whether or not
we're able to get funding from the federal government.
We'll have to figure out how to finance this.
If funding doesn't come from the federal government,
then development might be part of the solution.
- [Mary Beth] Wandering around Lower Manhattan,
it's spooky to think about how dramatically
climate change could redraw these city blocks.
And it's obvious that one threatened area here
is driving a lot of the urgency, Wall Street.
- So Lower Manhattan is an economic center of the city.
One in 10 jobs are located in Lower Manhattan.
75% of subway lines go through Lower Manhattan.
So we know that we need to protect Lower Manhattan
in order to protect the economic vitality of New York City.
- But in a lot of places in the U.S. alone,
extreme preventative measures
like New York's are out of reach.
Two communities, one in Alaska and another in Louisiana
are relocating to get away from rapidly eroding coasts.
And a 2018 study
found that as many as 311,000 houses in the United States
will be vulnerable to chronic flooding by 2045.
In other words, climate migration is already a reality.
And policy makers here in New York want to avoid the chaos
that could come from displacing a city
of almost nine million people.
- You can't just pick up and move a city very easily
and because cities are such important concentrations
of human lives and economic activity,
I think we will invest a great deal in defending them.
I don't expect us to be trying to move Manhattan.
I expect us to be defending it as vigorously as we can.
- We might not have as much time
to build out the barricades as you might think.
While most projections focus on 2100,
it's not like sea levels will wait
'til 2099 to suddenly attack.
Water will trickle in slowly, seeping into our lives
and disrupting infrastructure, property values,
and coastlines in the process.
It won't be sudden, but it will be fast.
- It's the speed of change
that I think is the most dangerous thing about it.
A bullet isn't dangerous if I'm holding it in my hand
or throwing it at you.
It's the speed of the bullet that makes it dangerous.
It's the speed of climate change and sea level rise
which are going to make them dangerous.
- If you want to learn more about sea level rise
including why it doesn't rise
at the same rate in all places,
check out our other video
and don't forget to subscribe.
Thanks.
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