SOUTH CAROLINA IS NOW CONSIDERED A MODEL FOR ‘MANAGED RETREAT’ FROM COASTAL AREAS THREATENED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
What are people talking about when they are discussing ‘managed retreat? Simply stated, it is the “abandonment of occupied land and the removal or relocation of population and infrastructure." If there are certain areas repeatedly getting pulverized by storms, floods, fires, and sea level rise, with little hope of these events ceasing, perhaps the state or federal government can help relocate inhabitants to safer areas where they are not constantly worrying about repeated disasters or rebuilding their homes. Sounds fair, right? Academic researchers and disaster managers have determined that “[b]y 2100, nearly 500 US coastal communities and 4.2 million US residents could face disruptive inundation, and worldwide damages and fatalities from flooding could more than double.” South Carolina has already identified hundreds of thousands of homes that will need to be abandoned. That is why many local and state governments are starting to have serious conversations about managed-retreat projects.
“Managed retreat and community relocation are not appropriate for all locations and all threats, and retreat is not the only option for addressing flooding and other hazards. But as history reveals, retreat and relocation can provide cost-effective solutions in some circumstances—solutions that also maintain social bonds, promote equity and social justice, and protect or even enhance the local environment. Looking forward, both in the United States and across the world, actionable plans are needed for expanded, and perhaps large-scale, relocations in the future.”
References:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03092024/south-carolina-managed-retreat-coastal-areas-climate-change/
https://issues.org/true-stories-managed-retreat-rising-waters-pinter/
https://issues.org/concerted-equitable-approach-managed-retreat/
