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'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

theguardian.com

11–20 of 230 posts

Re: 'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

#11
post #2

Rather than relocate, we can make discussion of climate change illegal or just tax the blue states to build a sea wall around the entire city

> Rather than relocate, we can make discussion of climate change illegal or just tax the blue states to build a sea wall around the entire city Like in The Netherlands? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Works

There's a museum in New Orleans that has a Katrina display and it turns out that they did indeed call in Dutch experts to advise them. The Dutch gave them sensible ideas like building low elevation parks that could flood without issue and hold lots of water, instead of concrete spillways and drainage that just moves water fast until it fails catastrophically when inundated. Louisiana being Louisiana, it was all ignored.

The museum convinced me that New Orleans is doomed in so many ways. Everything from the Atchafalaya ORCS to the paving over of wetlands to build the city to the destruction of the Plaquemines marsh lands to the southeast of the city all seem to be maximally unhelpful for preventing storm damage.

Re: 'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

#15
post #9

I would be surprised if the USA is even able to plan far enough ahead to put in a sea barrier/gates in time to protect New York City, similar to London. New Orleans? At least the old town is elevated.

Not even old town is safe. “Even if you stopped climate change today, New Orleans’s days are still numbered,” he added. “It will be surrounded by open water, and you can’t keep an island situated below sea level afloat. There’s no amount of money that can do that.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polder

Type 1 is often an island situated below sea level.

For instance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flevopolder . Island. Surrounded by open water because that's actually a good idea. Below sea level. 400 000 inhabitants. 2 cities, major agriculture, minor airport.

Ever wanted to grab dinner on the sea floor? Visit Almere Center. Though lots of people find it to be a bit boring in person.

Want the same sort of thing in the US? Consider dropping the Jones act. Right now it's illegal to bring the equipment that builds these things into the US.

Re: 'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

#17

I would be surprised if the USA is even able to plan far enough ahead to put in a sea barrier/gates in time to protect New York City, similar to London. New Orleans? At least the old town is elevated.

Our long term plan is for Jesus to come back and fix everything.

I wish I was joking...

Re: 'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

#18
post #7

Miami too. The city is build on porous limestone. No amount of levees, seawalls, or dams will save it.

Yet those in the know keep building there. Weird isn’t it?

They are betting they can sell the bag before the music stops.

Re: 'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

#19

I would be surprised if the USA is even able to plan far enough ahead to put in a sea barrier/gates in time to protect New York City, similar to London. New Orleans? At least the old town is elevated.

Be surprised, I guess - https://www.nyc.gov/site/lmcr/progress/battery-coastal-resil...

This project in NYC has been going on for a bit. The difference is LA has a GDP of about $340B+, while NY has a GDP of $2.3T+.

Re: 'Point of no return': New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level

#20
post #2

Rather than relocate, we can make discussion of climate change illegal or just tax the blue states to build a sea wall around the entire city

There's precedent:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2140747-laws-of-mathema...

> “The laws of mathematics are very commendable, but the only law that applies in Australia is the law of Australia,” said Turnbull [the Prime Minster of Australia]

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