This SF Examiner article explains how planners have decided to raise the land area around new development work planned for Treasure Island (San Francisco Bay). I read this article with mixed emotions.
On the positive side, planners are factoring in sea level rise, so that's a good thing, right? Climate Change and its impact are being taken seriously.
On the negative side, sea level rise is almost inevitable. In addition, I'm a bit more of a Cassandra on the issue of sea level rise, I think we would be lucky if they only go up one meter. New development should be restricted to higher ground, insurance rates for coastal buildings (those that can be washed out to sea due to rising sea levels) should be incredibly high or unavailable. Cities built in hurricane zones that are destroyed should not be rebuilt with government money. I know this is harsh, but it makes no sense. Rescue people living in an area about to be decimated? Absolutely. But, pay to rebuild their city so they can continue to live in the path of danger? I don't think so.
Tens of millions of people in Bangladesh are going to be displaced over the next century due to sea level increases. Those people will need our help. Where will they go? How will they live? What will they eat? Dumping a few extra feet of dirt on the edge of one little island is not going to be enough.
It really all feels overwhelming, doesn't it?
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