Human-Driven Sea Level Rise Increases Coastal Flooding

A new study published in Nature Climate Change, led by Sönke Dangendorf of Tulane University, reveals that human-driven sea level rise has drastically increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide. Events once expected every 100 years are now, on average, 12 times more likely. A separate study in Science Advances, co-authored by Benny Strauss of Climate Central, supports these findings, attributing 58% of extreme water level days from 2000-2018 to climate change. Experts like Jeffrey Williams from the United States — United States Geological Survey emphasize the need for updated coastal protection planning, noting that current systems in cities like United States — New Orleans may become inadequate. The research highlights greenhouse gases from fossil fuels as the primary driver since the 1970s, despite a global shift towards renewable energy and a decline in coal power in the United States, even under the Trump administration.