Hurricane Sandy Courtesy of NASA Godard

This special multi-part posting  reprises the  Green News Update issue (originally published exactly one year ago) on the current threats putting people in innumerable cities, urban deltas, coastal lands and low-lying island nations at severe risk. Rising waters, increased severe weather events, tsunamis and storm surges are all part of the critical issue of rising waters in cities and urban areas where some 70% of the world’s population are expected to live within a generation.

Whether it is encroaching seas, sinking land, extreme weather or the intrusion of salt water into freshwater aquifers, millions of people worldwide are at risk of losing their land, their livelihood or their life from rising waters.

Our report covers four areas:

Trends and predictions: Cities & Climate Change: Global Report on Human Settlements (2011) UN Human Habitat Program. Link to post

Cities/places at risk: maps, videos and interactives show trends and change. Link to post.

Ideas and solutions: From fantasy to fortification, a dozen examples of using planning, urban design and engineering to address rising waters in cities and deltas (Rotterdam, London, Hamburg), communities and island states. Link to post.

Research & Reports: For planners, architects, public officials and educators, a sampler of reports and studies with science-based analysis and recommendations. Link to post.