New Law in Hawaii Makes Developers Consider Sea-Level Rise

In Hawaii, beach front property is serious business, but a new law would make developers consider the costs of building close to rising seas. "Last week, Hawaii Governor David Ige signed a package of bills including a new requirement that an analysis of sea-level rise be included in all future environmental impact statements for development projects around the state," Jared Brey writes for Next City. This may seem to be common sense, but the law puts Hawaii ahead of other planning agencies in acknowledging the realities of a changing climate and its effect on seas.

Experts predict that by 2100 Hawaii will be contending with a very different shore line. One model shows "more than 25,000 acres of land rendered unusable, a third of it in urban areas," Brey reports.