Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking -- some 'rapidly'

[sl8]

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01149-7

NEWS
18 April 2024

Nearly half of China’s major cities are sinking — some ‘rapidly’

Tens of millions of people in the country’s coastal lands might find their homes below sea level by 2120 owing to sinking and sea-level rise.

By Xiaoying You

One in ten residents of China’s coastal cities could be living below sea level within a century, as a result of land subsidence and climate change, according to a paper published in Science today1.

Some 16% of the mapped area of China’s major cities is sinking “rapidly” — faster than 10 millimetres every year. An even greater area, roughly 45%, is sinking at a “moderate” rate, the paper says, meaning a downward trajectory of greater than 3 mm annually. Affected cities include the capital Beijing, as well as regional capitals, including Fuzhou, Hefei and Xi’an.

The situation could see one-quarter of China’s coastal lands slip below sea level within a few decades, posing “serious threats” to the hundreds of millions of people who live on the coast, the paper notes.

[...]

The paper’s authors did not reply to Nature’s request for comment.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01149-7

[KPN]

1. What a time we live in. The first sentence alone made me think,

hell, we aren’t even going to be here. We being the majority of us — if things continue much longer on the present trajectory.

I want and try to be, but in my 73 years, it has never been harder to be optimistic on the grand scale. Oh, I’m able to put it out of my mind and enjoy life on the day to day, but 50, 60, 70, a hundred years out?

https://m.

[Irish_Dem]

2. People will no longer live in coastal areas.

They will all have to move inland.

So there will be climate change migration.

[mopinko]

3. we need to b building sustainable cities on higher ground.

problem almost solved. if u build it, they will come.
if its’s sustainable, they can afford to stay.

[Irish_Dem]

4. The cost to move such a large part of the population is going to be huge.

In the US alone we have major cities right on the coast.

The billionaires have made it clear they will not pay one penny towards climate change
prevention or damages.

The cost will be born by taxpayers and individuals.

Relocating people is just one expense, there will be many many others.

So cost is going to be enormous, and our leaders are going to have to prioritize and make some plans.
Which doesn't look good given the GOP unwillingness to face reality or govern.

But yes there will have to be more housing inland.
And in most cities there is a housing shortage.

[mopinko]

5. r u kidding? this is a money making gold mine.

ppl w transport themselves for safe, affordable housing.
esp when they can’t insure where they r now, even w help from the feds.