“Millions of Americans at Risk of Becoming Climate Refugees Due to Sea Level Rise”
More than 13 million American citizens could be at risk of being forced to move away from vulnerable coastal zones because of sea level rise, according to a recent study. The research warns that if the coasts are not protected, the movement of people could match the scale of the 20th-century “Great Migration” of African-Americans from the south to the northern states.
The study concludes that more than 13 million people could be affected by a sea level rise of 1.8 meters. Even at the low end of projections, a rise of 0.9 meters will put more than 4 million people at risk. The concentration of population in coastal zones is a key factor in determining vulnerability to sea level rise.
Finnish scientists report that 1.9 billion people currently live within 100 kilometers of the coast and lower than 100 meters above sea level. By 2050, this number is expected to increase to 2.4 billion, with 500 million people living less than 5 meters above the high-tide mark.
The implications of these studies are significant, as they provide crucial information for city planners, coastal engineers, and policy-makers. The research conducted by population scientists at the University of Georgia looked at end-of-century population forecasts for all 319 coastal counties in the continental US to assess who would be most at risk from storm surges and flood tides by 2100.
The study suggests that the numbers of those potentially vulnerable to sea level rise may have been underestimated. Some of the fastest-growing communities, including major cities like Miami and New Orleans, could face significant risks. In the Florida Keys and parts of North Carolina, up to four-fifths of the population could be affected.
The cost of relocating millions of climate refugees could reach an estimated $14 trillion, based on the cost of resettling one Alaskan coastal village. However, rural hinterlands could become increasingly important as food-producing regions in a world of rising tides.
Overall, the research indicates that the hazards of sea level rise have been underestimated and that the effects on the economy and people could be substantial. As sea levels continue to rise and populations grow, pressure on less-populated areas for land and water resources may increase.
This article was produced by the Climate News Network and provides a comprehensive overview of the potential impacts of sea level rise on coastal communities in the US.