Protecting At-Risk Cities From Rising Seas

Hugh Pickens writes "BBC reports that with about 10 million people in England and Wales living in flood risk areas, rising sea levels and more storms could mean that parts of at-risk cities will need to be surrendered to protect homes and businesses, and that 'radical thinking' is needed to develop sea defenses that can cope with the future threats. 'If we act now, we can adapt in such a way that will prevent mass disruption and allow coastal communities to continue to prosper,' says Ruth Reed, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. 'But the key word is "now."' Changing sea levels is not a new phenomenon. In the Netherlands, for example, with 40% of its surface under sea level, water management and water defense have been practiced since time immemorial; creating mounds and dykes, windmills, canals with locks and sluices, the Delta Works and the Afsluitdijk, all to keep the water out. Similar solutions to protect British cities are based on three themes (PDF): moving 'critical infrastructure' and housing to safer ground, allowing the water into parts of the city; building city-wide sea defenses to ensure water does not enter the existing urban area; and extending the existing coastline and building out onto the water (using stilts, floating structures and/or land reclamation)."

Comments

Re:Interesting Novel idea

[DeadChobi]

We could simply ignore the problem as a race. Every time something bad happens to a group of people, they usually figure out how to adapt and prosper. I mean, the Dutch learned how to live under the sea without massive government intervention. It's not neccessary for our governments to step in and decide how to solve problems for us when we can decide as individuals. What if I really wouldn't mind converting my 3rd story apartment into a small dock? What if I'm willing to move?

My point is that if individuals want to preserve their way of life, they can usually find a way of doing that without having more government control. And it's best if they pay for it, not the people who figured out that their current homes would be under water in a few years and moved. The fact that our governments have taken it upon themselves to solve all our problems for us is insulting because it's predicated on the idea that we can't do it ourselves. If you live in the US, look at your paycheck every month to see just how much it's costing us to solve other people's problems.