Climate change risk & mitigation

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Climate researchers project sea levels to rise one foot on average along the US coast by 2050 (NOAA, 2022); however, there will be significant regional differences due to differential land rise or subsidence, which serve to offset or exacerbate sea level rise (SLR), respectively. For example, New Jersey has been and continues to experience land subsidence, which makes it more susceptible to SLR. Coastal communities, regardless of their location, need to understand their projected SLR through time, what areas are likely to be affected and the uncertainties surrounding these SLR projections. Afterwards, planning and steps to mitigate SLR can be undertaken. Whether you're a municipality, business or organization with long-term coastal interests, give us a call.

Sea level rise (SLR) is not the only consequence of climate change. Increasing storm frequency & intensity, heatwaves and flooding due to climate change affect all communities, not just those along the coast. As a result, municipalities and utilities need to take strategic and physical steps to improve infrastructure resiliency. Some of these steps include infrastructure hardening, diversification of energy and water resources,  identifying and improving backup systems for critical facilities and public engagement. However, it is critical to establish a data-driven feedback loop of mitigation steps, which includes an evaluation of historic and ongoing resilience analytics & metrics. This allows stake-holders to evaluate the cost-benefit of climate resiliency steps taken and to optimize them through time as necessary.