A Guide for Managed Retreat

A report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) urges coastal communities facing rising sea levels and other areas at risk from extreme weather to prepare for the possibility of having to relocate to adapt to the changing climate and landscape.

As Kaitlyn Levinson explains in Route Fifty, “Researchers estimate that the sea levels along the U.S. coastline could rise by up to 12 inches by 2050—an alarming progression considering that’s the same increase documented between 1920 and 2020.” Meanwhile, increasingly destructive wildfires are making some western towns unlivable. The report notes that inland communities will also need to prepare for increased migration and demand for essential services.

One way for communities to prepare is to conduct a land suitability analysis of potential relocation sites to ensure they can support the infrastructure needed. “In their relocation plans, officials should also consider amending or adopting rules on zoning, land acquisitions or open space management, the report said. For instance, policymakers can restrict future development in an area a community has moved from to prevent newer buildings from climate risks.” Governments are also creating property buyback programs to soften the impact of relocation and assist residents who would be financially burdened by the moving process.