Sinking Cities
With
the growing threats due to climate change – rising sea levels, devastating
storms and tidal flooding – it's no mystery why some of the world's most iconic
cities and natural wonders are at risk. And while there's no clear-cut answer
on the rate at which many cherished places the world over will be underwater,
with the impending long-term effects of climate change – including the melting
polar ice cap – we have a very narrow window before there will be dramatic
repercussions, says Costas Christ, Chairman of the National Geographic World
Legacy Awards and sustainable travel expert. "We have a window of 10 or 20
years at most before we set in motion the temperatures that we can't turn
back," he says.
Happily,
the outlook isn't all bleak. Our travel choices and actions make a difference,
Christ says. "What can we do as travelers? We can choose those companies
that are practicing and embracing sustainability," he explains. By
rewarding companies that are substituting plastics, generating less waste,
offsetting their carbon footprint, using renewable energy and supporting
national parks and fragile ecosystems, among other sustainable practices, we
can advance conservation efforts, travel responsibly and have a positive
long-term impact. With that in mind, here are six cities starting to submerge,
and expert-endorsed tips for limiting your carbon footprint and aiding
conservation efforts on your next trip
Miami Beach, Florida
With frequent coastal flooding and high tides in
vulnerable, low-laying areas, it's no surprise Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and other areas
across southern Florida are at risk of sinking into the ocean at a fast rate.
At only about 3 feet above sea level, Miami is particularly susceptible to
flooding. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that sea
levels could surpass 3 feet at the turn of the century and some studies suggest
daily flooding could lead to a rise as high as 6 feet. And according to a 2015
report from the Risky Business Project, an estimated $15 billion in property
across Florida could be threatened by accelerated sea levels. Undoubtedly,
increasing sea levels and flooding will impact Florida, but on the upside,
hundreds of millions of dollars have been funneled into the city of Miami to
raise sea walls and elevate streets, among other forward-thinking preventative
measures, to protect Miami Beach.
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