Managed Retreat from Sea Level Rise

It is no secret that the Trump Administration is working fast to dismantle climate protections, presenting some of the most environmentally vulnerable communities with the harsh realities of what the future holds for their beloved homes. In some instances, the cost of protective infrastructure—from natural coir logs to engineered sea walls—are far too costly to implement as protective barriers from natural hazards. Although the data varies on severity, research has confirmed that sea levels are rising and will ultimately impact established communities in coastal areas. In some instances, water inundation will be so severe that the areas will be uninhabitable. In the face of climate change and sea level rise, some communities in the United States and abroad are considering "managed retreat."

"Managed retreat" is the process by which local, state and federal governmental agencies work together to create a strategically planned retreat from a sea level rise vulnerable community and work collectively to resettle the displaced citizens. Tom Ashbrook of WBUR 90.9 writes "managed retreat [is] an orderly surrender to rising oceans." On air, Ashbrook interviews three professionals who have studied managed retreat, its application in coastal areas and the implications.

Since the 1980s, FEMA has offered a version of managed retreat—offering to buy storm-damaged homes and homes likely to be damaged again due to an extreme weather event—purchasing homes and converting them to natural open space. This program, however, is entirely voluntary for the homeowners. So while this is one attempt at incentivizing homeowners in post-disaster recovery to relocate away from their communities it does little to concentrate and make significant impacts in managed retreat.

"Managed retreat is a potentially important climate change adaptation option, providing an alternative to structural protection or accommodation measures to manage natural hazard risk," reports Miyuki Hino of her study, "Managed retreat as a response to natural hazard risk." States like Louisiana and Florida are most susceptible to the effects of sea level rise, reports Ben Strauss. And Robin Bronen asserts that in Alaska, villages are warming, losing ice, becoming more unstable, and ultimately contributing to the acceleration of inhabitable lands. "Sea level is rising everywhere, but not everyone has the same amount of resources. And this will be a huge equity issue." 

Managed retreat may seem like an impossibility to some communities and the costs associated with relocation are astronomical, however, this climate change adaptation strategy may become the most cost effective strategy to protect communities from rising tides.