Dealing with Rising Seas

Recently, I edited a book for a friend who has written a futuristic novel that projected significant damage to low-lying cities via sea-level rise.  I pointed out that seawalls will play a significant role in keeping coastal cities from the encroaching oceans.

He writes: “Following your thoughts about protecting Washington DC from rising waters, I added the following:  ‘Like most major US cities on the Atlantic Coast, Washington also had a seawall built from waterproof interlocked plastic blocks anchored deep into the earth. However, as in all cities, there were portions that could not be permanently walled, such as shipping ports, boat basins, beachfront, and low bridges connecting highways. All such areas were equipped with automatic pumps to clear everyday water formations and recessed walls that rose during storms.'”

I respond:

Good stuff.

One of the most depressing aspects of climate change is that it will continue for centuries, incrementally moving our sea coasts inland. At a certain point, it will be untenable to maintain certain cities, regardless of the seawalls and other physical means of maintaining them that we deploy. But what then? When we say farewell to Savannah, for instance, where do we build the city we’re using to replace it? There is no good answer, insofar as what looks good now won’t be good at all in another 50 years.

Obviously, we could have miracle technologies that completely address the issues. More likely, however, we could have other problems that dwarfs this one: world fascism, nuclear war, runaway AI, or whatever.

The only hope for this civilization is the reversal of our trend towards tribalism, selfishness and greed, and, concomitantly, a massive coming together to deal with this existential threat.