• New York City to Require Buildings to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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https://weather.com/news/news/2019-04-22-new-york-city-requires-buildings-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions At a Glance: The City Council passed a measure aimed at reducing buildings' greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030. The mayor is expected to sign the bill on Monday. The plan is said to be the first of its kind in the world. It's part of the city's effort to cut emissions 80% citywide by 2050.
It's a shame that NY will be underwater in 30-50 years. They're a progressive city working to minimize their impact, but being coastal they'll suffer when the tide rises. There's an excellent read about the dangers New York faces; Climate Change Will Bring Major Flooding to New York Every 5 Yea.. I recently read another article(Can't find it right now) about how New York can't build a "Sea Wall" in time for climate change, even if they started 5 years ago.
Well so much for The Expanse's version of NYC then. https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/110302/fb010f82-685c-4141-aa4a-c7bea1d59fca/image.png
I don't think that would work out, I don't trust a concrete wall to hold back the entire ocean. Not only that but New York City already has pumps running 24/7 to keep water out of sewers and subways, if they stopped working for even a day the entire place would become underwater caverns. So they'd have to be pumping out even more water constantly to keep the city dry.
certainly its still better to try than to give up?
A strong storm surge can certainly damage that by slamming loose boats or large debris into it.
Does that mean if a major blackout managed to hit New York City, it's subway system would be entirely flooded?
I'm more than sure they have backup generators for such an event, but even in the event it does become flooded, it wouldn't actually be the first time. http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/files/2014/07/NYC-FLOODED-PLAZA-BETTER.jpg https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/509139d1eab8eaac1d000006-750-501.jpg https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5092ea33ecad04017d000001-750.jpg
FYI this is not unique to NYC. People generally don't know about what goes on underneath their feet, but there's always water inflow underground - the water under pressure gets pushed through soft soils. Any underground structures will require pumping water out, the exact rate of inflow depends on lining material (cast iron is one of the best materials in this regard, it still leaks) and soil type, location relative to ground water level etc. The inflow rate can be as high as "it's a jet of water that can knock you down".
With the way things are going, I sometimes wonder if some people will ever change their mind before stuff gets like this: https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/242634/820e5615-6f7f-4b1d-bc95-dd9f2a119f9c/image.png That's from Cloud Atlas. I'm obviously being hyperbolic here and I am not this cynical, but deniers do really piss me off.
I'd be terrified if sea levels rose that high.
At this point cities themselves would most likely be unsustainable because climate change's effect on farm yield would lead to too small a food surplus.
the subways have been armoring up since Sandy, I believe NYC wants to be able to put a cover over every surface station entrance with watertight doors, and plug any potentially dangerous tunnels with inflatable plugs all in a matter of hours from giving notice.
I was in NYC over summer and despite being blisteringly hot, almost all the subway stations I passed through had some sectioned off flooded areas. If even a little smattering of rain can cause problems like that then god only knows what the future holds.
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