Global Floodplains: A Growing Threat to Humanity

A new study predicts that most coastal communities will experience 100-year floods annually by the end of the century, even under a moderate scenario where carbon dioxide emissions peak by 2040. By 2050, regions worldwide could face 100-year floods every nine to fifteen years on average. The study emphasizes that historical trends will no longer accurately predict future floods due to sea level rise caused by climate change. Engineers and communities need to update their approaches to land planning and coastal protective measures to mitigate the increasing risk of flooding.