Sea levels around New York City could rise at least 6 to 9 inches in the 2030s due to climate change, and by up to 13 inches in some areas, according to state projections.
An assessment conducted by the state Department of Environmental Protection claims sea levels in the lower Hudson River could rise by 23 inches in the 2050s and up to 45 inches in the 2080s.
“Sea level rise is one of the most direct and observable effects of climate change in New York, and DEC is committed to providing science-based sea level rise to guide decision-making and permitting in the areas most at risk. “We are required by law to develop an upward trend forecast,” the DEC said. said in a statement.
By 2100, sea levels in the lower reaches of the state could rise from 25 inches to 65 inches. In the worst-case scenario, the ice is predicted to melt rapidly, potentially resulting in an astounding 114 inches of rise by the end of the century.
Such dramatic sea level rise could devastate low-lying residential areas of the Big Apple that were hit during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
DEC has published sea level projections in the New York State Register based on global climate model studies. The agency is required under the Regional Risk and Resilience Act to regularly publish sea level forecasts.
“New York State is leading the nation in addressing the impacts of climate change, including heat waves, flooding, more frequent storms, and rising sea levels,” the DEC said.
Sea level forecasts do not impose any legal or compliance obligations on local governments, but are intended as a guide to assist state and local planners and regulators in making decisions to address storm-related flooding. intended.
Ultimately, the rate of sea level rise and the level of rise over time will be determined by the severity of global greenhouse gas emissions, the officials said.
DEC said that continued high emissions rates will continue to rapidly warm the oceans and increase the rate and level of sea level rise.
Addressing climate change without harming businesses and consumers is easier said than done.
Gov. Cathy Hochul has come under fire this year over a green push targeting key chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners, with critics saying business owners have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on new equipment. They claim that they can be forced to do so.
Small business owners say an aggressive schedule to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) starting next year will cripple businesses trying to comply with costly mandates, freeze jobs and reduce the cost of groceries and other consumer goods. The government warned that this could lead to a rise in the prices of products manufactured by manufacturers.
Last year, Hochul banned the use of gas stoves in all new home construction, sparking outrage.
