Study warns New Orleans could be underwater by next century
Updated
Updated · WWLTV.com · May 4
Study warns New Orleans could be underwater by next century
4 articles · Updated · WWLTV.com · May 4
The Nature Sustainability paper, led by Tulane geologist Torbjörn Törnqvist, says Louisiana must start planning managed relocation of whole coastal communities, including New Orleans.
It cites evidence from the ancient Ponchatoula Ridge shoreline, saying conditions that once drove about 20 feet of sea-level rise have already been set in motion.
Business leaders rejected the findings, arguing south Louisiana's energy and export infrastructure should be protected through stronger coastal defences and adaptation rather than abandonment.
With levees proving insufficient, can a 'living coastline' of mangroves buy New Orleans the time it needs to retreat?
Why are key coastal rescue projects being cancelled as the city faces a 'point of no return'?
As experts call for relocating 360,000 residents, what does a 'managed retreat' from a major US city actually look like?
Breaking Point in Louisiana: The First Climate Relocation Project Fails Amid $30B Funding Shortfall
Overview
Louisiana's first federally funded climate relocation project, moving Isle de Jean Charles residents to New Isle starting in 2023, faced major challenges due to a rushed timeline pressured by a 2021 federal grant deadline and COVID-19 delays. This led to substandard housing and flooding from poor infrastructure. Meanwhile, the cancellation of key sediment diversion projects left vulnerable parishes like Terrebonne and Plaquemines exposed to worsening land loss and storms. Compounding these risks, high insurance costs, underwater mortgages, and uninsured homes trap residents financially, even as over 84,000 people have migrated away since 2020. New Orleans faces similar pressures, balancing costly flood defenses with shrinking populations, highlighting the urgent need for better funding, community-led relocation, and resilient planning.