Cutting Edge Research

Coastal Impact Study:
Nation Under Siege

Forward

We are at the crossroads of the most significant crisis of modern times. Two profound, life changing events are converging to create this crisis - the warming of the earth’s atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, and the rapid depletion of global petroleum and natural gas reserves. We have all heard about the alarming planetary events that will occur if we fail to take decisive action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, from species extinction and intensified weather events, to food and water shortages and rising sea levels. What we have failed to acknowledge is the severity with which this crisis will impact the United States.

Architecture 2030's mission is to examine the Building Sector, the single largest contributor to global warming, to construct and offer real, achievable, measurable solutions to the climate change crisis. Therefore, this study begins with a sober look at the impact of sea level rise on the US, and then provides a two-pronged solution that, if begun immediately, would avert dangerous climate change.

Edward Mazria
Executive Director
2030, Inc. / Architecture 2030

 

To return to the map interface click here
or select a location from the menu below:


Foreword
Introduction
Sea Level Rise
Visual Imaging
One Meter of Sea Level Rise... and Rising
A Lesson Learned?
Current Trends
Timeline
Fossil Fuels and Climate Change
The Power of Coal
Silver Bullet: Moratorium on Coal
Replacing Coal
The 2030 Challenge
Been There, Done That
Revisiting Katrina
Conclusions
Appendix

Download the study: