Still living on the coast in the 22nd century

Since the industrial revolution and coal mining in the 19th century followed by oil and gas drilling in the 20th century, massive CO2 emissions are responsible for global warming and rising sea levels, which will continue until political and industrial energy decision-makers put in place effective energy transition solutions. In the meantime, younger generations are worried and some even suffer from climate eco-anxiety. This book gives examples of simulated coastal submersion, based on selected examples in the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the English Channel, the Atlantic, and on islands in the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. Then, to reassure the generations of the 22nd century, this book explains the energy transition, the advantages of green hydrogen in particular, low-carbon architecture, carbon neutrality for large cities and biomimicry. Finally, it proposes solutions for the adaptation of existing coastal settlement, as well as for the construction of new types of housing on stilts and/or floating, for CO2 capture, the adaptation of port infrastructures, multi-purpose offshore platform designs, and floating cities. It is to help today's youth that this book was written, so that future generations don't need to be afraid of the sea; instead of running away, they can continue to live on the coast. Full of illustrations, it includes 73 colour pages presenting 40 maps, 62 photos and 26 graphs or 3D sketches.

Jean-Marc Beynet is a French international expert specialising in coastal, port, maritime, and river development studies. In recent years, in response to the consequences of climate change, he has specialised in studies of adaptation to sea-level rise for port infrastructures, coastal towns, and waterfronts. He regularly acts as an expert assessor for projects commissioned by the European Commission. He is a civil engineer with a PhD in soil mechanics. He has 45 years of experience, having worked on numerous coastlines, ports and islands in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. He is a member of the Institut Français de la Mer and a corresponding member of the Académie de Nîmes. He has already published five books for the general public on adapting to rising sea levels.