Activities and initiatives focused on protecting and preserving our planet for future generations

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32 U.S. Cities Sinking into the Ocean, Face Significant Flood Risks by 2050

New York and San Francisco risk sinking into the ocean and face significant flood risks by 2050

A recent study revealed that 32 major cities in the United States, including New York and San Francisco, risk sinking into the ocean and facing significant flood risks by 2050. The study, conducted by researchers at Climate Central and published in the journal Nature Communications, found that these cities are sinking due to rising sea levels and subsidence, which is the gradual sinking of land. The study highlights how the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events, endanger coastal cities. In addition to New York and San Francisco, other at-risk cities include Miami, New Orleans, Houston, and Boston.

The researchers warn that if these cities do not take action to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to rising sea levels, millions of residents face catastrophic flooding and displacement. The study emphasizes the urgency of implementing measures to protect these cities from the impacts of climate change, such as improving physical infrastructure, building sea walls, and enforcing zoning regulations to limit development in high-risk areas. Overall, the study serves as a stark reminder of the need for immediate action to address the growing threat of climate change and its impact on coastal cities.

“Climate Central communicates climate change science, effects, and solutions to the public and decision-makers. Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives.”

“Nature Communications is an open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical, Earth, social, mathematical, applied, and engineering sciences. Papers published by the journal aim to represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field.”

(Source: Turner, Ben. “32 U.S. Cities, Including New York and San Francisco, Are Sinking into the Ocean and Face Major Flood Risks by 2050, New Study Reveals.” LiveScience, Future US, Inc., 6 Mar. 2024, www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/32-us-cities-including-new-york-and-san-francisco-are-sinking-into-the-ocean-and-face-major-flood-risks-by-2050-new-study-reveals.)

About ClimaTwin®

ClimaTwin® is a leading climate risk intelligence solution for infrastructure assets and the built environment.

We empower infrastructure stakeholders to mitigate climate risks and assess adaptation actions across the total asset lifecycle. By connecting complex climate models and infrastructure digital twins, our solution enables owner-operators, investors, governments, engineers, and other decision-makers to aggregate, visualize, and analyze disparate datasets, revealing site-specific insights at a hyper-local scale. Benefits include 5-10x near-term returns and lifetime cost-avoidance by mitigating risks to systems, services, and societies.

To learn more about climate risk intelligence for your infrastructure assets, please visit www.climatwin.com today.

© 2024 ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin® is a registered trademark of ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin Basic™, ClimaTwin Enterprise™, the ClimaTwin logo, and Climate Risk Intelligence for Infrastructure Digital Twins™ are trademarks of ClimaTwin Corp. All rights reserved.

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Risk-based Approach for Future Sea-Level Rise & Design Flood Elevations

Risk-based Approach for Future Sea-Level Rise & Design Flood Elevations

A non-stationary, risk-based approach for determining design flood elevations under sea level rise

The American Society of Civil Engineers‘ article “What Role Does Sea Level Rise Have in Facility Design Elevations?” discusses the impact of sea level rise (SLR) on facility design elevations. With the threat of rising sea levels due to climate change increasing, civil engineers must consider SLR when designing infrastructure. The article highlights the importance of considering projections for future sea level rise when designing buildings, bridges, and other structures. By incorporating higher elevation requirements into design standards, engineers can ensure that infrastructure remains resilient in changing environmental conditions.

The article also emphasizes the need for collaboration between engineers, planners, and policymakers to develop strategies that address the challenges posed by sea level rise. By working together, stakeholders can create innovative solutions that mitigate risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of infrastructure. In summary, the article underscores the critical role of sea level rise in facility design elevations and calls for proactive measures to address this growing threat. Civil engineers must prioritize resilience and sustainability in design practices to protect infrastructure from the impacts of climate change.

D.J. Rasmussen, Ph.D., Aff.M.ASCE, is an applied climate scientist in the Earth & Environment hub in the San Diego office of WSP USA.

This article is published by Civil Engineering Online. It is based on a conference paper, “A non-stationary, risk-based approach for determining design flood elevations under sea level rise,” presented at the 2023 ASCE INSPIRE Conference.

The content provided in this article is for general informational purposes only.

© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.

(Source: D.J. Rasmussen, Ph.D., Aff.M.ASCE. “What Role Does Sea-Level Rise Have in Facility Design Elevations?” Civil Engineering Source, ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers, www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2024/03/what-role-does-sea-level-rise-have-in-facility-design-elevations. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024.)

About ClimaTwin®

ClimaTwin® is a leading climate risk intelligence solution for infrastructure assets and the built environment.

We empower infrastructure stakeholders to mitigate climate risks and assess adaptation actions across the total asset lifecycle. By connecting complex climate models and infrastructure digital twins, our solution enables owner-operators, investors, governments, engineers, and other decision-makers to aggregate, visualize, and analyze disparate datasets, revealing site-specific insights at a hyper-local scale. Benefits include 5-10x near-term returns and lifetime cost-avoidance by mitigating risks to systems, services, and societies.

To learn more about climate risk intelligence for your infrastructure assets, please visit www.climatwin.com today.

© 2024 ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin® is a registered trademark of ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin Basic™, ClimaTwin Enterprise™, the ClimaTwin logo, and Climate Risk Intelligence for Infrastructure Digital Twins™ are trademarks of ClimaTwin Corp. All rights reserved.

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A call to action for engineers to integrate climate change considerations

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Exploring Climate Change and Flood Adaptation Strategies to Support Health Equity

Exploring Climate Change and Flood Adaptation Strategies to Support Health Equity

Communities & Climate Change: Exploring Flood Adaptation Strategies to Support Health Equity

The upcoming two-day virtual workshop will identify barriers and solutions for exploring health risks posed by flooding events. In addition, the workshop will address effective adaptation strategies for community resilience and ways to foster partnerships among government, academia, and the private sector to implement these strategies locally. Day 1 of the workshop will focus on identifying the barriers to exploring health risks from flooding events. Day 2 will focus on effective adaptation strategies for community resilience and ways to foster partnerships among government, academia, and the private sector.

About the Workshop: Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity Workshop Series: Exploring Flood Adaptation Strategies to Support Health Equity

“This fourth and final workshop in the Environmental Health Matters Initiative’s (EHMI) series on Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity will build on past EHMI and National Academies work to explore health risks posed by flooding events, discuss effective adaptation strategies for equitable community resilience, and foster partnerships among government, academia, and the private sector to implement these strategies locally. This will be a two-day virtual workshop.”

National Academies’ Climate Resources

“From more extreme weather to more frequent and intense wildfires, the climate is changing in ways that pose increasing risks to people and ecosystems. Explore the National Academies’ expert advice to help the nation understand, prepare for, and limit future climate change.”

National Academies’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources

“Research in social science, medicine, and other fields can shed light on the factors that drive systemic racial inequities — not only in society at large, but also within the sciences, engineering, and medicine — with the goal of finding solutions based on evidence. A range of studies, webinars, and other activities at the National Academies have explored this research, some of which are highlighted here.”

(Source: National Academy of Sciences)

© 2024 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

About ClimaTwin®

ClimaTwin® is a leading climate risk intelligence solution for infrastructure assets and the built environment.

We empower infrastructure stakeholders to mitigate climate risks and assess adaptation actions across the total asset lifecycle. By connecting complex climate models and infrastructure digital twins, our solution enables owner-operators, investors, governments, engineers, and other decision-makers to aggregate, visualize, and analyze disparate datasets, revealing site-specific insights at a hyper-local scale. Benefits include 5-10x near-term returns and lifetime cost-avoidance by mitigating risks to systems, services, and societies.

To learn more about climate risk intelligence for your infrastructure assets, please visit www.climatwin.com today.

© 2024 ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin® is a registered trademark of ClimaTwin Corp. ClimaTwin Basic™, ClimaTwin Enterprise™, the ClimaTwin logo, and Climate Risk Intelligence for Infrastructure Digital Twins™ are trademarks of ClimaTwin Corp. All rights reserved.

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