The results of a new study indicate that up to 13 million Americans may be displaced by rising sea levels before the end of the century. While the likelihood of large numbers of people being displaced has been understood, this study also examines where those displaced are likely to end up. Based on a blend of population and sea level projections, as well as historical data on where people moved after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the study indicated significant migrations to landlocked areas like Atlanta and Dallas, and rural and suburban areas in the Midwest.
Results from the research are seen as having applications towards urban planning and infrastructure development, to help ensure areas are progressively capable of supporting the influx of new residents. Limited impacts are already being observed, with FEMA having bought out over 40,000 homes in flood-prone regions.
“When migration occurs naturally, it is a great engine for economic activity and growth.” economist Juan Moreno Cruz, co-author of the study, told Gizmodo. “But when migration is forced upon people, productivity falls and human and social capital are lost as communities are broken apart.”
Sources:
https://earther.gizmodo.com/climate-change-could-force-millions-of-americans-to-fle-1841261940
