IN THE U.S. PORT CITY OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA -- HOME TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST NAVAL BASE
-- NO ONE IS FAR FROM THE OCEAN, WHICH IS GREAT FOR WATER SPORTS, BOATING AND FISHING...
BUT PROBLEMATIC WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
SEA LEVEL IS RISING FASTER IN NORFOLK THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE U.S. EAST COAST, IN PART
BECAUSE THE CITY SITS ON FLAT LAND, MUCH OF IT BEING FILLED-IN MARSH THAT'S NOW AT SEA
LEVEL AND IT IS SINKING.
RESIDENTS REPORT THEIR HOMES AND STREETS ARE NOW FLOODING MORE THAN EVER DURING STORMS
AND TIDES.
VOA'S ROSANNE SKIRBLE WENT TO THE CITY FOR A FIRSTHAND LOOK AND TALKED WITH ON ASSIGNMENT'S
REBECCA WARD ABOUT WHAT SHE SAW.
NORFOLK SITS AT THE MOUTH OF THE LARGEST ESTUARY IN THE UNITED STATES.
THERE'S AN INTRICATE NETWORK OF RIVERS AND CREEKS THAT DIP INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WITH SEA LEVEL PREDICTED TO RISE ANOTHER METER BY 2100, CITY INFRASTRUCTURE IS AT RISK, SAYS
SKIP STILES, HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP WETLANDS WATCH.
"EVERY BRIDGE THAT WE BUILD TODAY, EVERY ROAD THAT WE BUILD TODAY, EVERY SEWER LINE THAT
WE PUT IN PLACE TODAY IS GOING TO FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FROM SEA LEVEL RISE OVER ITS USEFUL
LIFE BEFORE IT'S REPLACED AGAIN."
I VISITED A HOME THAT SAT RIGHT NEAR, STEPS AWAY FROM THE WATER - I WAS SHOWN HOW FAR
UP THE STAIRS IT WOULD GO.
ALSO PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ROUTINE - THEY HAVE TO MOVE THEIR
CARS ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN THE TIDES ARE HIGH.
SO WHAT'S THE CITY DOING?
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE ROADS - THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY HAVE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
THERE IS A $1 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.
IN THE SHORT-TERM, NORFOLK HAS RESPONDED WITH MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS, SUCH AS RAISING
ROADS AND HOUSES, AND PROTECTING ITS DOWNTOWN WITH FLOOD WALLS, PUMPING STATIONS, AND STORM
DRAINS.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER RON WILLIAMS SAYS THIS MAJOR ARTERY WILL BE ONE-HALF METER HIGHER
WHEN THIS PROJECT IS DONE.
"WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IS ABOUT $1 BILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS CRITICAL TO PROTECT
AND MITIGATE DURING COASTAL STORMS."
MITIGATION IS IMPORTANT.
BUT ATTENTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO THE CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT
TO DO.
WHETHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD CAN AFFORD TO DO THESE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES...
IF NORFOLK IN A RICH COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE REST OF THE WORLD?
AND FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES THERE, I GUESS THEY HAVE A DECISION - YOU KNOW PUT
THE MONEY INTO THEIR HOUSE OR SOMEHOW PREVENT THE WATER FROM COMING IN IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE
TO LIVE THERE.
I MEAN IS THIS KIND OF A QUESTION?
THIS IS A QUESTION.
PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUT.
YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF FOR-SALE SIGNS.
BUT THEY ARE DOING SOME CREATIVE THINGS THOUGH - THEY'RE BUILDING NEW WETLANDS TO ABSORB
SOME OF THIS WATER.
BUT STILL, IS THAT GOING TO BE YOUR DECISION?
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE...
IF YOU'RE GOING TO RETIRE IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON THE COAST OF UNITED STATES - ARE YOU GOING
TO RETIRE TO NORFOLK WHERE YOU GOT THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS?
BUT AGAIN THERE'S ALSO A HUGE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 45% OF THE ECONOMY
IN THIS REGION.
I TALKED TO PEOPLE AT THE NAVAL BASE.
THEY ARE ON THIS PROJECT AND THEY ARE AS INTERESTED AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES OR
HAVE TO RAISE THEIR HOMES ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY
THAT'S AT STAKE.
IS THERE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF JUST RAISING THE ROADS AND RAISING THE DEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MITIGATE THE CAUSES FOR HAVING TO DO THIS?
WELL IT'S OUR FACTORY, IT'S OUR TRANSPORTATION AND IT'S OUR BUILDINGS.
THERE IS A MOVEMENT AND IT'S GROWING AND GROWING - A GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR A NEW TREATY TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE SOLVED IS
WE HAVE TO STOP WHAT'S CAUSING IT.
AND OUR THANKS AGAIN TO VOA'S ROSANNE SKIRBLE.
NOW COASTAL FLOODING AFFECTS MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.
SCIENTISTS SAY EVEN A SMALL SEA LEVEL INCREASE CAUSES THE WATER TO EAT AWAY AT THE SHORELINE,
LEADING TO HIGHER TIDAL SURGES DURING STORMS.