With climate change expected to drive a meter or more of sea level rise this century, planning now for a "managed retreat" from places facing inundation could help at-risk communities preserve what they value most, researchers and city officials said Tuesday.
Whether families opt for floating homes or new ones inland, coming moves also present opportunities to address historical inequities and ensure that protecting communities — rather than just cutting economic losses — is a top priority, they said.
"Too often adaptation is trying to keep the world the way it is when we should be trying to make it better," argued A.R. Siders, a University of Delaware assistant professor and managed retreat specialist.