Americans want sea level rise prep, not reaction
They also want property owners, not the public, to foot the bill.
Americans want sea level rise prep, not reaction
Sandy Bauers, Inquirer GreenSpace Columnist
Sea level rise is happening. In the last century, it’s gone up a foot in Delaware Bay, more along the Atlantic coast of New Jersey.
That changes everything, from the height of the twice-daily tides to what happens in storms like Sandy, which swept the coast and left more than $70 billion in property damage.
So should we prepare for more, or take our chances and simply react if it happens again?
An overwhelming majority of Americans — 82 percent of those surveyed — opt for preparation, according to a study released today by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Center for Ocean Solutions.
And they want the property owners, not the public, to foot the bill.
About 62 percent also favor stronger building codes for new structures along the coast. And 52 percent want policies to prevent new buildings in vulnerable areas.
Where to put people and buildings is a legitimate question. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report released March 25 predicts that U.S. coastlines — already crowded in our area, to be sure — will have 11 million more people living along them by 2020.
Few people believe that preparing ahead will harm the economy or eliminate jobs. “In fact, more people believe that preparation efforts will help the economy and create jobs around the U.S.,” said survey director Jon Krosnick in a press release. He’s a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and professor of communication.
As far as adaptation strategies, 48 percent of the survey’s respondents favor sand dune restoration; 33 percent favor efforts to maintain beaches with sand replenishment; 37 percent support relocating structures away from the coast; 33 percent support constructing sea walls.
The survey was conducted with 1,174 American adults over the internet.
Among those contributing to the survey design and analysis process were Ezra Markowitz, a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University, and Robert Socolow, director of the Princeton University Environmental Institute's Climate and Energy Challenge.
The results were presented this morning in Washington, D.C. A video of both the presentation and a panel discussion afterward is available here.
Line the coast with sponges.......— STEPHEN1988- Live wherever you want. Just don't expect the rest of us to pay when your personal choice turns out bad. Simple, right?— b,ill a,tkins
- While I kind of agree with you, I look at it this way. If people in West Philly shoot their guns into the air at the rising sun, and some people in Center City get hit with bullets, well, it's not murder, but the people in West Philly are responsible. Everyone contributes to climate change. We all use plastic and heat our homes, most of us drive, and very, very few of us get all our food from local sources. I don't think we should pay for storm damages at the shore, but we should help them with preparing for a greater rise. Either that or insurance costs become to prohibitive for anyone to live or work at the shore, and there goes billions in revenue and our way of life.
- Now that we've had a rude awakening about the dangers of living near the coast, it's time to re-think future building. Efforts are already underway to provide better protection for homes, but the cost should be borne by the owners--not the taxpayers. It's not fair that I subsidize your second or retirement home while you lounge at the beach. You chose to build or buy there, so you should take responsibility for your actions. This wasn't a disaster that warrants the public giving you grants to restore your leisure place. It was a natural--sure, unusual--smashing storm. Where was your insurance? I'd be sure to carry it, especially if I live near possible danger areas. If you opted to risk it, than so be it. It's like not having insurance on your home in a city. Don't want to pay an insurance premium? Than the replacements costs are your obligation--not mine.— oblekr
- Good to see we have strong public support out there for planning and preparation.
But on the specific approacches, I would discount public opinion befcause science does not bow to opinion polls.
Example: Sea walls don't work and make things worse. So opinion on that doesn't matter - its a bad idea.— Bill Wolfe - Build farther away from the shoreline. Use higher concrete post and more natural dunes.— A. Martinez
- Yo,surf's up baby! get the Fed out of the insurance and dune building business and the problem will simply blow away once and for all....— rex nemorensis
- I wonder if some of the people demanding FEMA help and federal subsidies for rebuilding the NJ shore are among those who were so vehemently against the same things in New Orleans after Katrina. Me, I believe rebuilding is the responsibility of the owner. I don't own a home at the NJ shore or any shore area. The rewards are nice, but the risk and potential cost are something I would not want to face. If you own property, then you own the cost of keeping it viable.— Kranzley
GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science. Reach Sandy at sbauers@phillynews.com.
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