Climate Change

Review the graphics from the IPCC available here. Note that the scenarios vary from “business as usual” CO2 emissions that will result in a 1 m rise in the oceans by 2100 to immediate reductions that will limit the sea level rise to 0.5 m. However, catastrophic loss of glacial ice could cause a “tipping point” that would raise seal levels by 3 m or more in the next century.

Click on the interactive google sea level changes map or the one from the New York TImes and choose a major city that will be your focus for this discussion and complete the following steps and answer the questions below. You can also use the information contained in the documentary An Inconvenient Truth to help you in answering the questions.

Find and list the current population of your city (You will need to look this up on-line, be sure to cite your source)

In the Interactive Sea Level Change Map, change the sea level rise to 1 meter. What percentage of the city is lost under water? Using this percentage estimate the number of refugees (same percentage of the population) expected due to this rise in sea level.

Next, change the sea level rise to 3 meter. What percentage of the city is lost under water? Again, using this percentage estimate the number of refugees expected due to this rise in sea level.

Now, change the sea level rise to 6 meter. What percentage of the city is lost under water? And again, using this percentage estimate the number of refugees expected due to this rise in sea level.

How is your city prepared to deal with these large numbers of refugees, and why? (Please research the sea level rise preparedness of your city in order to help you answer this using factual information. Be sure to cite/reference your sources.)