Why does sea level rise matter?

Sea level rise of any magnitude will have global consequences, including land and habitat loss, flooding, erosion, decreased freshwater supply, altered ocean chemistry, and more. It will have the greatest effect on the world’s most vulnerable. Read more about the inequitable impacts of sea level rise here.

What will happen if Thwaites glacier melts?

The melting of Thwaites glacier could directly cause sea levels to increase as much as 2 feet. However, its impacts do not stop there. Thwaites also acts as a natural dam, keeping other ice in place. If it melts, nearby glaciers will likely add several more feet of rise.

Won’t this be costly?

Yes, it will. Still, our attempt to intervene at the root of the problem will be far less costly than individual coastal interventions across the globe would amount to. Seawalls, the most commonly proposed local intervention, are “expensive, and unfairness will be one of their heaviest costs.” We should not rely on local interventions to protect us or our coastlines.

Is this going to take pressure off decarbonization?

There is evidence that discussing engineering approaches does not impact mitigation engagement. If ice sheet collapse is already underway, this solution may be helpful even in a future world with net zero emissions, successful atmospheric carbon removal and drawdown.

Our intervention aims to buy the world time until behaviors and systems have adapted to support a society that is not reliant on fossil fuels. Even if the world stopped using fossil fuels now, humanity would continue to grapple with challenges such as temperatures and sea level rise. If strategies like this intervention are not utilized to prevent irreversible damage created by already-emitted CO2, glaciers will not be there when CO2 comes under control.

Opposing intervention research for fear of changing mitigation behavior is akin to opposing medical research for fear that people will make unhealthy choices.

Glaciers have melted and refrozen before. Why should humans intervene further than they already have?

This is the first time that global temperature fluctuations are a direct result of human activity. In the past, the fluctuations were a result of natural cycles, and most of the time, changes occurred much more slowly, providing more time to adapt. Now, we feel there is a duty to preserve the natural habitats we have had a hand in deteriorating.

Who are we?

We are a group of scientists, engineers, and policy makers committed to trying to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Our diverse experiences allow for strong cross-sector collaboration and opportunities to challenge mainstream ideas.