Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation Strategies in New Orleans: Projections and Policy Response by 2050
Overview
This paper examines the projected impacts of climate change on New Orleans by 2050, focusing on rising sea levels, extreme weather, and economic threats. It discusses the city's vulnerability to coastal erosion and subsidence, and evaluates mitigation strategies including the $50 billion Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority fund and the city's net-zero carbon emissions goals.
What this essay covers
- Definition and characterization of climate change and its causes through industrial greenhouse gas emissions
- Specific climate threats to New Orleans including sea level rise, land subsidence, and projected submersion by 2050
- Policy responses and mitigation strategies including federal funding and the Clean Portfolio Standard for net-zero emissions
Preview
Climate Change
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Climate Change
Climate Change
Climate change is characterized as a substantial and long-term shift of weather patterns. It can take anywhere from a few decades to millions of years. It may be due to variations in average weather patterns, such as when the rainy season in the tropics starts on average, or changes in the frequency of severe events such as droughts, floods, and storms. The planet is in the middle of a climate change emergency. By producing toxic greenhouse gases, industrial development has destroyed the protective ozone layer, causing global temperatures to rise. The paper discusses the changes expected in my home city (New Orleans) by 2050 with or without reductions of GHG emissions.
Rising temperatures have increased sea, ocean, and lake water levels, while high temperatures and deforestations have caused rivers and rain catchment areas to dry up. Increasing water levels and falling land are putting New Orleans at risk of extinction. Given that the seawater level has already risen fifty feet, the town is expected to be fully submerged by 2050. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority set apart a $50 billion fund in 2017 to help fight against climate change. This scheme includes New Orleans as one of the beneficiaries.
Extreme weather is becoming common and more powerful. Small island states and other coastal areas and megacities are especially vulnerable. Children, especially those in developing countries, are prone to the resulting health risks and exposure to the effects for a longer period.