We have passed the point of no return when it comes to rising seas, and hundreds of millions of people will be impacted. Forced migration will lead to international conflicts, but can adaptation without migration work? Major coastal engineering works, such as the Thames Barrier and the Rotterdam Barrier, have worked in the past, but increased funding will be needed to keep up. There are further problems with military and industrial bases near the water. They threaten to leak contamination into groundwater. Contaminated soils could be dug up and made inert. Building floating urban districts protected from tides and waves is another possibility. But there are numerous challenges involved.
Key Takeaways:
- Coastal engineering works, such as pumps and tide gates, will need to be scaled up.
- Industrial and military sites are often contaminated, and rising groundwater could spill toxins.
- The Dutch know how to protect floating urban districts from waves and tides.
“The forced migration of hundreds of millions of people will undoubtedly lead to serious international conflict over space and basic resources like fresh water.”
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/21/the-big-idea-how-can-we-adapt-to-life-with-rising-seas
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