Ep 63: Sea Level Rise with John Englander (Rising Seas Institute)
Nov 5, 2021
auto_awesome
In this insightful discussion, John Englander, President and Founder of the Rising Seas Institute and author of Moving to Higher Ground, explores the pressing issue of sea level rise. He highlights the alarming rate at which sea levels are rising due to climate change, the economic implications for coastal communities, and the social challenges faced by vulnerable populations worldwide. Englander emphasizes the critical role of architects and urban planners in developing resilient infrastructure and urges innovative adaptations to this inevitable environmental change.
Sea level rise is primarily driven by melting ice sheets and thermal expansion, with significant implications for global ecosystems.
Current rates of sea level rise are accelerating due to anthropogenic climate change, posing unprecedented threats to coastal regions.
Socioeconomic impacts of sea level rise include displacement of vulnerable communities, depreciating coastal property values, and emerging climate refugees.
Deep dives
Understanding Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise (SLR) is defined as the increase in the level of the world's oceans stemming from climate change. The two primary drivers of this phenomenon are melting ice sheets and glaciers, along with thermal expansion, which occurs when water expands as it warms. It’s notable that melting icebergs do not contribute to SLR since they are already floating in the ocean. Instead, it is the ice on land that affects sea levels, particularly from the massive ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland, which hold the vast majority of the world’s land ice and have the potential to raise sea levels significantly.
Climate Change Drivers of Sea Level Rise
The acceleration of sea level rise is closely linked to the impacts of climate change, primarily caused by human activities that increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Natural phenomena such as the Milankovitch cycle exist; however, they cannot account for the unprecedented warming observed since the Industrial Revolution. Feedback loops, such as the ice albedo effect, whereby diminishing ice cover exposes darker ocean water that absorbs more heat, serve to exacerbate the situation. The complex interactions between these factors reveal that current warming trends are largely unnatural and driven by anthropogenic influences.
Historical Context of Sea Level Changes
Historically, the Earth has experienced dramatic shifts in sea levels, correlating closely with ice age cycles and temperature fluctuations. Over the past 18,000 years, sea levels have risen roughly four feet per century as a result of natural warming following the last ice age. Comparatively, current rates of sea level rise are accelerating due to modern global warming, where recent data suggests significant increases, notably since 1993. This unmistakable upward trend indicates that future sea level rise could far exceed historical rates, posing a substantial threat to coastal regions.
Projected Impacts and Adaptations to Sea Level Rise
The expected impacts of sea level rise will vary geographically, with certain areas facing more profound risks than others. In the US, regions along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico are projected to experience faster rates of rise compared to global averages, leading to increased flooding and displacement for millions. Communities will need to adapt by either implementing effective flood defenses or considering relocation. Key strategies for adaptation include adjusting building and zoning codes, enhancing resilience through infrastructure investments, and exploring innovative solutions such as floating structures or water squares that can function during flood conditions.
Socioeconomic Considerations of Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise has significant socioeconomic implications, particularly for vulnerable populations who lack the resources to adapt. Displacement of communities will likely lead to climate refugees, especially in countries like Bangladesh, where rising sea levels could inundate vast areas. Economically, coastal properties face depreciating values as the risk of flooding increases, resulting in potential losses amounting to trillions of dollars globally. Conversely, certain regions may benefit from these shifts, such as inland areas and cities near lakes that become desirable locations as coastal communities face adverse effects.
We cover a lot of heavy-hitting topics here on Sustainability Defined, but today's topic of sea level rise might just be one of the heaviest. Sea level rise (SLR) refers to the increase in the level of the world’s oceans due to the effects of climate change. The ecological and socioeconomic impacts of this rise are staggering. Join us as we unpack how sea level rise works, why our current rate of rise blows most everything else in history out of the water, and how SLR will reshape economies and the ways people live around the world. Our guest is the unparalleled John Englander, President and Founder of Rising Seas Institute and author of Moving to Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward. Come learn with us and raise your knowledge about SLR!
-----------------------------
Sustainability Defined is the podcast that seeks to define sustainability, one concept (and bad joke) at a time. Hosted by Jay Siegel and Scott Breen.
Each episode focuses on a single topic that helps push sustainability forward. We explain each topic with the help of an experienced pro, place it within our organizational tree, and help our listeners define what exactly sustainability is, episode by episode.
We have divided our organizational tree into the following seven sectors:
Energy
Cities
Natural Environment
Transportation
Business
Policy
Social
Each episode is categorized under one of our sectors and visually depicted within our organizational tree. The more episodes we complete, the more the tree will visually define what exactly sustainability means.
Please go to www.sustainabilitydefined.com for more information. Our website has pages for each episode where there is a player to stream the episode, as well as hyperlinked intro notes.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
