Climate change and rising sea levels will greatly threaten many of the world's cities and should be considered when planning and designing for coastal areas. But this article argues that planners and designers haven't yet "connected the dots".
"We are used to thinking of the environment as something that changes very slowly, if at all, and are confident that modern engineering can solve just about any problem. The problem is, no matter what happens now in the world of politics, sea levels are going to rise faster in our lifetimes than they have since before the first cities were built. How fast and how much? Our conclusion is that this will be an extremely significant challenge that our coastal regions will have to confront over the next fifty years."
"Sea levels have been rising for thousands of years, since the last ice age, but so slowly that in the past natural systems have adjusted incrementally. We now know that sea levels will rise faster because of warmer water temperatures and accelerated melting of ice sheets, but we don't know enough about the physical processes that affect major ice sheets to know exactly how global temperature increases will affect them. The temperature increases that have already occurred have committed us to a faster rate of sea-level rise no matter what we do at this point. But how much more should we expect in fifty years, or 100, or 150? Could sea level change drastically within our lifetimes?"
"The blunt answer is 'Yes.'"
"As far as we can tell, most designers and planners aren't thinking seriously about climate change in the U.S. unless they work closely with the insurance industry, which is dropping tens of thousands of East Coast customers and raising rates on the rest, in part as a result of climate predictions.2 Ecologists all over the world also know that it's a very big deal. The World Bank knows. But building and landscape architects, engineers, and planners don't seem to have connected the dots."
FULL STORY: Design for Rising Sea Levels
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Rivian Joins Movement Toward Universal EV Charging
As more automakers like Tesla, Ford, and Rivian make their charging infrastructure compatible, the shift could lead to the faster development of a nationwide EV charging network.
NYC Secures Funding for Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement
The aging Manhattan transit terminal, the world’s busiest, will receive a $10 billion revamp and expansion.
Why Some Affordable Housing Managers Are Running Education Programs
Many housing organizations are finding that educational programs are a logical — and valuable — addition to their offerings.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Village of Glen Ellyn
City of Laramie
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners