• This kind of touches on a problem that’s been stewing in my mind for the last year or so. How is New York City going to deal with climate change? By the end of the century water levels are going to rise by up to six feet. That’s significant! It could put many neighborhoods literally underwater, but beyond that the infrastructure - subways, sewers, etc. - could face significant problems.

    Relevant quote from the article:

    “Sponge cities can maybe deal with sea level rise of one or two meters, but five meters? No,” admits Kongjian. “But if the sponge city can’t stop it, nothing can. You have to move the city away.”

    It’s possible we see NYC just… move away from its current position within our lifetimes.

    • It would have to move within a few thousand years anyway. What is a millenia plus slash minus?

      Oh right, a fucking lot. Its like only getting half a day moving out of an apartment and finding a new place to live. Its gonna be stressful.

    • It’s possible we see NYC just… move away from its current position within our lifetimes.

      in NYC’s case it’s a lot more likely they put up a ton of levees to try and defer the problem, since they have the money to do that (and to play favorites); in fact i’m pretty sure that’s the main plan with respect to sea level rise in the city. people have proposed alternatives but Big Wall is just quick and easy in a way “maybe we need to normalize green spaces that can flood” isn’t