The need to make difficult decisions like these reflects the growing consensus among experts that not every community in the United States can be protected in the long run. Some areas — particularly in some coastal zones, but also inland along rivers and other areas where flooding is worsening with climate change — can’t successfully be defended no matter how much money the government might be willing to throw into fortifications, drainage upgrades or other improvements. Deciding which areas should be abandoned, and when, is one of the most urgent and difficult challenges facing the United States. The financial consequences are also sweeping, since property values are likely to plummet, along with the life savings of people who live there. As a result, figuring out how to plan for retreat is among the hardest decisions facing policymakers, according to people who have worked on climate resilience.

Source: New York Times March 31, 2021 23:15 UTC