Ralph Santos

Writing 39C (Advocacy Project)

Price

11-22-2017

The Seven Seas War: Dealing with the Rising Seas

Figure 1:
The mesmerizing Antarctic Ice Shelf
shown melting highlighting the effects
of global warming contributing to the
dangerous trend of rising global sea
levels.
(Photo By: Maria Stenzel
Source: National Geographic)

The rate of rising sea levels possess a huge threat that requires the worlds attention. The

effects of rising sea levels is starting to be felt in different parts of the world. Erosion, flooding,

and fresh water contamination are the result of ocean water rising and flowing inland. For a

country such as the United States, these consequences lead to social and economic problems. For

example, flooding has led to the relocation of families who live on coastal regions in the country.

Moreover, flooding has disrupted business leading to economic dents. Research has shown that

the rate of sea level rise has reached alarming levels, and more regions are in trouble if the trend

continues. Rising sea levels is a complex issue that cannot be fixed over night. Multiple solutions

are required to address such a complicated problem.

The breaching seas must be fought through strong efforts by the people and government.

A way to reverse the trend is to attack its core, global warming. Collaborative efforts between

officials and people can jump start environmental projects that can alleviate global warming
 Santos 2

causing the rising trend to slow down. Alternatively, since rising sea levels can only be slowed

down and not stopped, coastal management like building seawalls or fortifying infrastructure

must be considered to limit the potential damage from rising sea levels. Unfortunately, such

projects have been met with opposition due to their social effects and staggering costs.

Ultimately, damages caused by rising sea levels can only be dealt with by unified efforts

addressing global warming and infrastructure projects.

Build that (Sea)Wall

We dont know by how much or by when. But its going to rise.

So our future planning must consider that.

Building seawalls is a proven way to inhibit encroaching waters to disrupt the United

States coastal regions. The U.S. general coastline spans over 12,000 miles with huge cities such

as San Francisco, California. According to Jochen Hinkel, a senior researcher at the Global

Climate Forum, We dont know by how much or by when. But [sea level is] going to rise. So

our future planning must consider that. (Lehmann) We cannot stop the continuous growth of sea

levels, but we have the solutions to contain its consequences. Seawalls provide long term

protection to the people and resources of the coast to ensure the safety of civilians while

protecting physical assets from the rising seas.

Figure 2:
Coastal defense mechanisms like levees and seawalls
have proven to be costly for a country with massive
coastal coverage like the United States. Inflation will
lead to an inevitable increase in cost the slower we
implement them to protect coastal regions from the
creeping seas.
(Source: The Journal of Regional Analysis Policy,
Cost of Defending Against Rising Sea Levels and
Flooding in Mid-Atlantic Metropolitan Coastal
Areas: The Basic Issues)
 Santos 3

Cost has been a huge factor why coastal defense projects have not been implemented in a

bigger scale in the United States. James Koch of the Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy

highlights the significant increase, from 5,300 to 6,789 dollars, of sea wall construction cost per

linear foot in a span of about a decade. In addition, maintaining these seawalls are estimated to

cost between 5 and 10 percent of the original cost. (Koch 53) With thousands of miles to

potentially cover across the United States coast, the expensive price tag for this type of defense

has put projects on hold.

However, the benefits of seawalls outweigh the costs it will take to build them. Potential

damages caused by the rising seas is not just a problem for coastal states. Major states like

California, New York, Texas, and Florida have significant coast lines. These states have major

political and economical influence. If these states fall victim to the trend, all states will feel its

wrath. Coastal and inland states must work together in aiding the coast to fortify their defenses to

the unforgiving seas. Hinkel sends a message regarding the importance of creating these walls

despite its high costs stating that if humans build dikes, the annual cost of flooding could drop

from as high as $100 trillion, in an unprotected world, to about $80 billion. (Lehmann)

Furthermore, Hinkels report asks for a sense of urgency as sea levels rise and socioeconomic

development increases the number of people and value of assets in the coastal floodplain.

(Hinkel 1) Trillions of dollars and millions of lives can be saved if we invest in protecting the

coast effectively and early.

In addition, seawalls have also been opposed due to its potential impact on tourism.

However, coastal defense management is not solely based on seawalls there are other techniques

that can be used to provide coastal regions the protection they need and keeping the its beauty for

tourism. The Maldivian governments Integrating Climate Change Risks into Resilient Island
 Santos 4

Planning (Sovacool 1180) program in 2010 is a great example of how tourism can be retained

while protecting our coasts from rising sea levels. They implemented organic solutions like the

use of mangrove trees at the island of Kudhahuvadhoo to minimize the threat of the seas like

flooding while maintaining the natural ambiance of the Maldivian island. Defending the coast is

a complicated task that can be addressed by many different ways. There is the flexibility of

utilizing the hard defense like sea walls or the soft defense like the use of organic plants to

address the rising seas and minimize the damages it can cause to areas near water.

Water Under the Bridge

The condition of roads, bridges, schools, water, treatment

plants, and other physical assets greatly influences the

economys ability to function and grow.

Fortifying infrastructures is another key in minimizing the damages caused by rising sea

levels. Elizabeth McNichol of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities highlight the

importance of infrastructure investment for the country. If coastal cities begin to flood due to the

rising sea levels, infrastructure is an area that will be affected heavily. Report from James

Neumann et al. highlight the increase in vulnerability of infrastructure across the United States

due to the effects of climate change like

rising sea levels. (97) Damaged

infrastructure will cost millions of

dollars to repair, and would negatively

impact the economy further due to

disruptions in businesses and the

 Santos 5

relocation of affected areas. Investing in strengthening our infrastructure will result in lowering

repair cost and disruptions that can hurt the American economy.

Similar to sea walls, cost is a huge reason why infrastructure projects lack progress.

McNicholss article claims that estimated cost of bringing Americas infrastructure to a state of

good repair (a grade of B) by 2025 [is] $4.6 trillion, of which only about 55 percent has been

committed. (3) The government continues to underfund projects for infrastructure fortification

leaving major infrastructure out of date. In fact, State and Local government spending on

infrastructure three years ago was at a 30-year low when spending dropped from 2.4 percent to

Figure 3:
1.95 percent of the GDP (gross
Roads, electricity, and schools are important
infrastructures that we take for granted. As sea levels domestic product) in 2014.
continue to rise, the funding gap between allocated
funds for public infrastructure seem to follow the Research indicates that investing in
same trend.
(Source: Center on Budget and Policy Prorities, infrastructure repair can fuel economic
Its Time for States to Invest in Infrastructure)
growth in addition to protecting

resources. McNichols article claims that the condition of roads, bridges, schools and other

physical assets greatly affects the economys ability to function and grow. (12). A functioning

economy requires well built infrastructure able to withstand natural disasters. As the world feels

the wrath of climate change and rising sea levels, public infrastructure must be improved to

survive these conditions. The economic benefits of strong infrastructure overshadow the cost to

repair infrastructure. For example, roads, ports, and airports are necessary for trade to progress.

In addition to the economic benefits, improved infrastructure has its use for the public.

Maintaining these resources to withstand more than just sea level rise open a bridge to economic

opportunities and social benefits that will counter its cost.

 Santos 6

Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Figure 4:
Research has shown carbon
emissions and deforestation the
main culprits of climate
change. A significant decrease
in these actions can bode well
for our future climate and sea
levels.
(Source: Union of Concerned
Scientists)

Another way to deal with rising sea levels is by going on an all out war against its root

cause, global warming. Global warming is responsible for melting ice sheets and increasing

ocean water temperatures triggering the rise in global sea levels. The war on global warming is a

complex issue that requires a plethora of solutions like the battle with rising sea levels.

Regardless of its complexity, preventing global warming promotes one big theme about saving

mother nature. Reducing carbon emissions and stopping deforestation is a great way to combat

climate change as shown in figure 4. At a larger scale, major companies responsible for

emissions and deforestation must consider alternatives to make their systems eco-friendly. On

the other hand, the public can have a huge impact reducing emissions and deforestation to

mitigate global warming. Slowing climate change will limit ocean thermal expansion and

melting ice sheets leading to the decline in the rate of rising sea levels.

Cutting the air pollutants worldwide by 30 to 60 percent

would lower projected sea level rise by 22 to 42 percent

Reducing carbon emissions and stopping deforestation have a powerful impact in

mitigating climate change contributing to the effort to reverse the rising sea level trend. Carbon

dioxide and several other air pollutants are known to trap heat and stay for centuries in the
 Santos 7

[Earths] troposphere (Seeker). Healthy forests are needed to absorb heat-trapping gasses like

carbon dioxide. In addition, chopping down trees release even more carbon dioxide to the

atmosphere stimulating global warming. Therefore, dealing with global warming starts with

reducing air pollution while keeping our forests green. Moreover, a Seeker article in 2013

emphasizes that cutting air pollutants worldwide by 30 to 60 percent would lower

projected sea level rise by 22 to 42 percent (Seeker) by the year 2100. We are responsible in

implementing projects that contribute to fight climate change to control sea level rise.

Despite its proven necessity, projects of reducing carbon emissions and deforestation

have been a challenge due to the unwillingness of a few government officials and companies in

related industries to comply and cooperate in saving the environment. Paul Griffin, head of the

Carbon Disclosure Project report suggests that only 100 companies are responsible for over 70

percent of carbon emissions. (Griffin) These companies must consider changes like converting to

renewable energy or recycling resources to reduce the emissions they produce to contribute to

the efforts on slowing climate change. Furthermore, a study in 2015 by the Union of Concerned

Scientist studied big corporations efforts to get their beef from cattle raised on deforestation-

free areas. While top companies like Wal-Mart and McDonalds earned the studys top score,

several other companies like Burger King and Pizza Hut still fail to commit using deforestation-

free beef. (Gustin) We can only hope that these companies change course and commit to

protecting the environment. To further exacerbate this issue, President Donald Trump and other

officials continue to question the legitimacy of climate change. This leaves the United States the

only [powerful] country to reject the Paris Agreement that focuses on global efforts to address

climate change. (Meyer) Lack of movement and commitment by the current government and

major companies has slowed the efforts in addressing climate change in the United States. They
 Santos 8

need to be more informed of the severity of climate change and rising sea levels; showing the

potential social and economic dents in can produce if not dealt with.

Regardless of the conflicts this issue produces on a higher level, the public has just as

much influence in fighting climate change. Making conscious decisions regarding pollution

makes people huge assets in stopping global warming. Companies are not the only ones that can

make significant changes to fight climate change and the rising seas. Even though one persons

decisions to help the environment may not comparable to one company, these contributions

accumulate with millions of people living in the United States. Figure 5 shows sectors that

contribute to gas emissions that harm our atmosphere. Majority of these sectors can be greatly

influenced by smarter decisions by regular citizens.

Figure 5:
A 2013 recording by the Environmental
Protection Agency of greenhouse gas emissions
broken down into different sectors. With
electricity being the leading sector at 31
percent, smarter investment in more efficient
technology and electricity conservation can be
significant fighting emissions to fight global
warming and rising sea levels.
(Source: World Resources Institute, Putting
a Price on Carbon: Reducing Emissions)

For example, electricity, a luxury humans take for granted, leads the figure on its

contribution to greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. If nothing is done, as the rise of

technology and population continues, the future of electricity and green house emissions can be

frightening. According to the World Resources Institute, over four billion megawatt hours of

electricity are produced each year. (Kaufmann et al. 7) How do we lower these numbers? A
 Santos 9

solution to lower electricity consumption is to simply use less electricity. Simple changes like

turning the lights off when they are not in use or using our air conditioning less during the

summer have a huge impact minimizing energy. Alternatively, the beauty of technological

advancement today is the noticeable increase of availability of efficient home appliances. People

have the power to minimize energy consumption by using these products that barely change their

lifestyles. Lowering energy consumption can save families a lot of money while saving the

environment making this a win-win situation.

The Bottom Line

The war against rising sea levels cannot be solved by one spontaneous solution. It

requires a collaborative effort that can minimize its wrath to valuable resources in the United

States and the world. Despite the consequences of the rising seas being proved by valid research,

there continues to be a conflict between officials and the public whether or not rising sea levels

and climate change is a cause for concern. We must continue to educate and spread the word to

help them understand the damages sea level rise will cause unless dealt with. People need to be

informed of the different solutions to disrupt sea level growth. Coastal defense management like

seawalls have the goal of protecting lands and infrastructure from damages caused by sea water.

Fortification of infrastructure share this goal with coastal defense management making sure that

important resources that we use everyday like roads and buildings are up to code and are able to

withstand the inevitable rise of global sea level. The government and public need to understand

the importance of these investments in reducing the social and economical threat sea level rise

can produce. Dealing with climate change is another way to deal with sea level rise. Reducing

harmful emissions and deforestation can serve as a huge step for dealing with climate change

that can aid our efforts to combat sea level rise. These proposed solutions are necessary to make
 Santos 10

huge progress in the fight against sea level rise. Whether you live on a coastal region or further

inland, addressing this issue is beneficial for all since the world is run on collaboration not

isolation.
 Santos 11

Works Cited

DNews. "Want to Slow Sea Level Rise? Curb 4 Pollutants." Seeker. Seeker, 16 Apr. 2013. Web.

14 Nov. 2017. <https://www.seeker.com/want-to-slow-sea-level-rise-curb-4-pollutants-

1767411333.html>.

Griffin, Paul. "CDP Carbon Majors Report." Carbon Disclosure Project (2017): 1-16. The

Carbon Majors Database. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.

Gustin, Georgina. "Beef Companies Falling Short in Pledge to Help Prevent Deforestation in

Amazon." InsideClimate News. Inside Climate News, 19 Oct. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.

Hinkel, Jochen, and Et Al. "Coastal Flood Damage and Adaptation Costs Under 21st Century

Sea-Level Rise." (2013): 1-6. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.

<https://www.eenews.net/assets/2014/02/04/document_ew_01.pdf>.

Kaufmann, Noah, Michael Obeiter, and Eleanor Krause. "Putting a Price on Carbon: Reducing

Emissions." World Resource Instititute (2016): 1-34. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.

<https://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/Putting_a_Price_on_Carbon_Emissions.pdf>.

Koch, James V. "Costs of Defending Against Rising Sea Levels and Flooding in Mid-Atlantic

Metropolitan Coastal Areas: The Basic Issues." The Journal of Regional Analysis &

Policy 1 (2017): 53-60. AgEcon Search. Web. 13 Nov. 2017.

<https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/132440/2/10-1-4.pdf>.

Lehmann, Evan. "Sea Walls May Be Cheaper Than Rising Waters." Scientific American.

Climate Wire, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.

<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sea-walls-may-be-cheaper-than-rising-

waters/>.
 Santos 12

Mcnichol, Elizabeth. "It's Time for States to Invest in Infrastructure." Center on Budget and

Policy Priorities. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 10 Aug. 2017. Web. 14 Nov.

2017. <https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/its-time-for-states-to-invest-

in-infrastructure>.

Neumann, James E., Jason Price, Paul Chinowski, Leonard Wright, and Lindsay Ludwig.

"Climate Change Risks to US Infrastructure: Impacts on Roads, Bridges, Coastal

Development, and Urban Drainage." Climactic Change 131.1 (2015): 97-109. Web. 14

Nov. 2017.

Sovacool, Benjamin K. "Hard and Soft Paths for Climate Change Adaptation." Climate

Policy (Earthscan), vol. 11, no. 4, July 2011, pp. 1177-1183. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1080/14693062.2011.579315. 21 Nov. 2017.

Stenzel, Maria. Antarctic Ice Shelf. Digital image. National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov.

2017. <http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/photos/sea-level-rise/#/sea-level01-

iceberg-antarctica_16592_600x450.jpg>.