Chapter 8 Social and economic costs of sea level rise

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Sea-level rise is the most certain consequence of global warming, and the impacts are already evident along the world's coast. In economic terms, beach erosion is the most serious problem as tourist beaches diminish in size or are lost over time. It is estimated that 80–90% of the U.S. sandy beaches are currently experiencing erosion, and the cost of beach restoration through sand pumping is quite high. Therefore, beach nourishment makes economic sense only for the most developed areas. Small islands are problematic to defend beach erosion and flooding because of their long shoreline versus small areal extent. Possession of the economic resources to accommodate sea-level change is a critical question. The chapter presents the adaptation/protection costs for several less-developed countries. Bangladesh is a classic case where major impacts from accelerated sea-level rise will affect a large number of people, but where economic development cannot be expected to produce the resources to support any large-scale strategies for mitigation without outside help.

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