Study: Adaptation Needed to Protect Coastal Populations

A recent study conducted by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research indicated that a rise of 50 to 130 centimeters in ocean levels is likely by 2100 if nations do not take steps to immediately reduce greenhouse gases.

The study results were compared to an earlier study completed by the National Academy of Sciences, and confirmed previous theories that this century has seen the fastest sea-level rise on record.

Climate change impacts

As a result of climate change impacts, the most significant issues of sea-level rise include increasingly intense storms, which produce enhanced coastal flooding events.  The study used mathematical functions to estimate average annual damage costs for inundations in order to help cities take appropriate adaptation actions.

When sea levels rise, damage costs rise even faster: breaking PIK study #climatechange https://t.co/i4hA5iYlap pic.twitter.com/XP4OlUNPzb

— Potsdam Institute (@PIK_Climate) February 29, 2016

Adaptation planning is essential

According to the study, adaptation planning is essential to building resiliency and preventing economic damages that will increase as sea levels rise.

Adaptation is likely going to remain a challenge even if the Paris Climate Change Agreement is upheld by most nations. In addition, even if nations implement these changes, a projected sea-level rise by 2100 of 20 to 60 centimeters is still predicted.

Adaptation methods might include building barriers such as dikes, flood insurance, or creating a long term plan to relocate communities and residents.

Doing nothing is not an option

Simply doing nothing is not a viable option, researchers pointed out, using Copenhagen, Denmark as an example.  For that city, an approximate 11 centimeter rise over the next thirty years or so, would cause double the economic losses during that same time frame.

Researchers suggest working with transitional or developing countries to help prevent losses by steering them toward plans to build adaptation into their infrastructure now so future damages are limited.

The study pointed out that limiting greenhouse gases is still critical to prevent ever-escalating impacts, but adaptation is also critical to avoiding massive future economic losses.