Sea levels are rising twice as fast in parts of New Zealand as anticipated, threatening the country’s two largest cities, according to a study published Monday.
Data on the country’s coastline show that some coastal areas are already yielding three to four millimeters per year, accelerating the process produced by excess greenhouse gas emissions. Estimates were made by NZ SeaRise, a large five-year, government-funded research program run by an international team of scientists.
Authorities have less time than expected to plan for and adapt to the consequences of global warming, according to the estimates pointed to in the study. One of the main obstacles is the resettlement of residents living in coastal areas.
Globally, if sea level rises by about half a meter by 2100, that elevation should reach about one meter in most of the archipelago, according to Professor Tim Naish of the University of Wellington, who is co-director of the program. Like the land, it gives way to the same time. This prospect would be disastrous for Wellington, which could see a 30-centimeter rise in sea level by 2040, which was not expected before 2060.
severe flood
Wellington residents can therefore be victims of severe flooding each year. “We have less time to act,” said Naish, who described the situation as “worrying”. The data show that the southeastern coast of the North Island, one of New Zealand’s most populated areas, is one of the most exposed.
The study also reveals that Auckland, with a population of 1.7 million, is also highly vulnerable. According to forecasts, sea level will rise by 50% more close to the center and various peripheries, which will affect the prices of housing and insurance companies.
The government program has created a tool that allows residents and authorities to check the forecast of the area they live in so they can assess the risk of flooding and erosion. “We don’t have time to sit down,” said the scientist, urging authorities to take action and consider the best way to adapt to the situation.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern said plans to tackle rising sea levels are already underway, including budgeting and the creation of new housing facilities and certain infrastructures.
The Prime Minister also urged New Zealanders to do whatever they can to reduce emissions and limit the consequences of climate change. Sea level rise is the result of thermal expansion of the ocean in conjunction with the melting of polar ice caps.
(with information from AFP)
source: Noticias
