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Climate Change Will Displace Millions of People. Where Will They Go?

posted by mrpg on Saturday January 06 2018, @08:30AM   Printer-friendly
from the I-pick-south-france dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

[...] Some experts estimate that climate change could force between 150 and 300 million people to find a new place to live by the middle of this century, though there is considerable uncertainty about the amount. Finding suitable locations to house them will be a significant impediment. As Michael Gerrard explained, "part of the problem is scale. If we're talking about millions of people having to be on the move, it just doesn't work."

In the U.S., there are very few habitable places that aren't already occupied by homes, businesses, or agriculture, or preserved as park lands or forests. Meanwhile, rural areas would provide few opportunities for migrants to find employment and rebuild their lives.

Instead, Gerrard suggested moving people from high-risk areas to cities whose populations are shrinking, such as Detroit, Michigan. He sees cities' potential for vertical development, energy-efficient buildings, and public transportation as a way to sustainably host climate migrants.

What if refugees from Caribbean islands don't want to live in Detroit?

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @07:03PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @07:03PM (#619241)

    I guess time will tell, with any luck we'll be able to adapt in time and idiots like you will go around saying "see we didn't need to freak out decades ago!". The rest of us will roll our eyes and pray the next generation is better.

  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday January 07 2018, @09:48PM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 07 2018, @09:48PM (#619294) Journal

    I guess time will tell, with any luck we'll be able to adapt in time and idiots like you will go around saying "see we didn't need to freak out decades ago!".

    I don't think it'll take much luck.

    And then

    The rest of us will roll our eyes and pray the next generation is better.

    Because apparently the current "smart" generation can't understand how to present a science-based argument.

  • (Score: 2) by gottabeme on Tuesday January 09 2018, @04:41AM

    by gottabeme (1531) on Tuesday January 09 2018, @04:41AM (#619863)

    In other words, you will continue to believe what you believe now, regardless of future evidence. Sounds like religion to me.