Dozens of US cities may face chronic flooding over the next few decades if global warming is not mitigated, a new study has found.
This study by the Union of Concerned Scientists said efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement could lessen the impact. US President Donald Trump has promised to withdrawal from accord.
“In hundreds of coastal American cities and towns, decades before sea-level rise permanently puts land underwater, chronic, disruptive high tide flooding arrives and makes it impossible to carry on business as usual in impacted areas,” co-author and senior climate analyst for UCS, Erika Spanger-Seigfried said.
“Between 165 and 180 chronically inundated communities in just the next 15 to 20 years; between 270 and 360 in roughly 40 years, depending on the pace of sea level rise; and 490 by end of century with a moderate sea level rise scenario,” Spanger-Siegfried said.
Ninety communities are considered…