Americans Want to Combat Sea Level Rise: Poll Reveals Preventative Measures are Favored

Rising sea levels are a major threat to the U.S. and should be dealt with accordingly--at least, that's what most Americans believe. A new poll conducted by Stanford University researchers reveals that citizens want the nation to prepare for climate change, but don't want the government to pay for it.

The study itself was conducted with Hurricane Sandy still fresh on everyone's minds. The devastating storm caused millions of dollars-worth of damage as it broke levees and flooded neighborhoods. The expensive, protracted rebuilding was largely picked up by taxpayers.

In the survey, the researchers focused on asking participants about their attitudes about specific effects of climate change--like sea level rise--and what could be done to combat them. In all, 1,174 participants were included in the survey.

The researchers found that four out of five adults, or 82 percent, say that the nation should prepare for damage expected from sea level rise and storms. The most popular solutions to deal with these potential threats were strengthening building codes for coastal structures and preventing new construction near the coast. Apparently, preventative action was the key to combating sea level rise.

"The question is, how does public support for preparation translate to action?" asked Meg Caldwell, the executive director of the center for Ocean Solutions, which helped sponsor the survey, in an interview with the LA Times. "Our impulse is to try to move quickly to put communities back together the way they were after devastation. But that impulse often leads to doubling down on high-risk investments, such as rebuilding in areas likely to experience severe impacts."

Caldwell is right--people do like to rebuild in dangerous areas. In fact, the number of people in high-risk areas along the coast is expected only to increase in the coming years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that the U.S. coastlines will be home to about 11 million people by 2020. 

While preventative action could be the key to keeping people safe during major storms, though, the public apparently doesn't want the government to pay. About 60 percent said that people and businesses in high-risk areas that are affected by sea level rise and storms should cover the cost. A mere 38 percent said that the government should pay. Even so, how the nation deals with the tide of climate change, including rising sea levels, will likely continue to enter politics for years to come.