By Andrew Brett Einhorn

Executive Summary

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted in their last report (2001) that global temperatures would increase between 1.4-5.8 degrees Celsius by the year 2100 due to human emissions of greenhouse gases. New predictions (2001) by the IPCC show a rise in sea levels of 9-88 cm (3.5-35in) due to warmer temperatures by 2100 with a most likely increase of 38-55 cm (15-22 in) and a central value of 48 cm (19 in). These projections have left many coastal planners and developers wondering how severe the impact of these changes will be and what steps to take to protect shorelines and coastal cities. With over 95,000 miles of coastline, 3.4 million square miles of ocean within its territories, and 53% of the population living on or near...