Professor Orrin Pilkey from Dukes University USA talks about his paper on the consequences of sea level change that he will deliver at the Coast to Coast 2010 Conference in Adelaide.
The Sea Also Rises
Sea level rise is likely to be the first major global catastrophe related to climate change. Most assume a one-meter sea level rise by 2100, which will cause low-lying beachfront development to be abandoned or massively sea-walled. Mathematically modelled beach behaviour has not proven to be a useful basis for practical decisions. When the sea level is higher, coastal cities will be higher priority than lightly developed coasts. Suggested solutions include: (1) remove government support for shorefront development; (2) don't rebuild shorefront storm-damaged buildings; and (3) instil the philosophy that if it's too big to move or too precious to lose, don't build it.
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