A new study by Climate Central projects that approximately 62,000 people and 56,000 homes in New Jersey will experience at least one annual flood by 2050 due to rising sea levels, even if significant reductions in carbon emissions are achieved. The findings are derived from the organization's updated Coastal Risk Finder, an online tool designed to help individuals along the nation's coastlines understand their future flood risk under various scenarios.
The study also indicates that under current moderate global commitments to reduce emissions, the number of New Jersey residents impacted by annual flooding could increase to 68,000 by 2050. If global climate pollution continues unchecked, this figure could rise to 74,000 residents and 66,000 homes in the coming 25 years. Climate Central bases its projections on sea-level rise data provided by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
To support efforts in anticipating coastal flooding, Rutgers University offers NJ Adapt, a suite of data visualization and mapping tools that help communities and planners in New Jersey understand and prepare for climate change impacts. This includes a Climate Planning Tool that specifically addresses local conditions, such as those in Atlantic City, where sea levels have been rising by 0.15 millimeters annually over the past century.
Lucas Marxen, co-director of the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers, praised the new tool by Climate Central for its user-friendly interface and practical solutions for citizens. However, he cautioned that the tool’s language regarding flood risks might lead users to misinterpret the likelihood and intensity of future flooding events.
"The language used by Climate Central may mislead the public as to the real risk of these types of flood events," he said, highlighting that events classified as "100-year" floods are not limited to once a century occurrences, as shown by events like Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
