A recent article in newsweekThe title “Map shows US cities that may be submerged by 2050” claims that if humans do not stop climate change, many major cities will be submerged by rising sea levels by 2050. [emphasis, links added]
It's wrong, just as wrong as it was then In the decades leading up to 2000 and 2020, multiple media outlets made the same claim multiple times.
None of these cities are anywhere near “underwater,” or even have coastal waters lapping at their streets, parking lots, or buildings.
newsweek Point to data and maps produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
A map shows coastal cities in the northeastern United States facing increasing threats due to rising sea levels.
According to the latest projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels along the U.S. coastline are expected to rise by an average of about 10 to 12 inches by 2050.
If current trends continue and mitigation efforts are not strengthened, many communities along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts will be at significant risk of partial inundation in the future.
NOAA's Sea Level Rise Viewer shows which cities in each coastal region are likely to be affected, with dark blue areas indicating significant sea level rise expected.
Newsweek cited the map below to provide an image that reflects the alarming predictions:
newsweek People forget that these areas are expected to be submerged between 2000 and 2020.
This argument is not new. Mainstream media outlets have been issuing similar alarming predictions for decades, but often the timeline has come and gone without the predicted disaster happening.
At the end of the 20th century, numerous media bulletins warned that major U.S. cities would be submerged by the year 2000 due to rising sea levels.
For example, a 1989 Associated Press article reported warnings from United Nations officials: If global warming is not addressed, entire countries may disappear from the face of the earth by the year 2000 due to rising sea levels.
Likewise, in 2012, PBS released an interactive map predicting Some U.S. cities and counties may experience flooding in 2020 or 2050 due to storm surges caused by global warming. Like chicken fairy tales, the media's past warnings have been proven wrong time and time again.
So, Martha’s Vineyard property values are plummeting, right? Are the Obamas moving? Won't wealthy people buy waterfront property anywhere in the Northeast?
You are liars and only sheep will believe you. 🖕🏻— JC (@FederalistJC) December 9, 2024
These past predictions were based on climate models and assumptions that, in hindsight, The rate of sea level rise has been grossly overestimated and the resilience and adaptability of human societies have been underestimated.
Current projections are based on the same flawed climate models that have exaggerated past rates of sea level rise.
NOAA claims that global sea levels have risen at a rate of about 1.2 inches per decade since 1993. This rate of change would not make any of the cities in question newsweekBy 2050, this article will be buried under water. At this growth rate, society has enough time to adapt.
Furthermore, local factors, e.g. Land subsidence, tectonic activity, wetland conversion, and groundwater extraction play important roles in regional sea level changes, complicating overall predictions.
The media's penchant for sensationalism often leads to an amplification of worst-case scenarios without the support of empirical data.
For example, a climate realism The article criticized CBS News for suggesting that New York City is on the verge of being submerged due to rising sea levels, stating This claim is not supported by current trends or historical data.
Human society has exhibited significant adaptive changes throughout history. Technological advances and proactive urban planning enable coastal cities to implement effective sea level rise mitigation strategies.
For example, the Netherlands has successfully controlled sea levels for centuries through an extensive system of dikes and pumps, demonstrating human ingenuity in facing the challenges of nature.
Spoiler alert: These cities were supposed to be flooded in 2000 and 2020.
— Dereka Hunter (@derekahunter) December 9, 2024
While it is prudent to acknowledge and prepare for changes in the environment, It is also important to critically evaluate the data and avoid making unrealistic claims that incite unfounded fears.
Predictions of imminent catastrophic sea level rise that would submerge cities have repeatedly failed to materialize, Emphasizes the need for a balanced perspective that takes into account scientific evidence and historical context.
newsweekRecently published articles warning that American cities will be submerged by 2050 are yet another example of alarmist reporting that prioritizes sensationalism over substance.
By neglecting to critically evaluate historical data, current trends, and similar records of failed predictions, the media has done readers and the broader conversation about climate a great disservice.
Responsible journalism requires more than just repackaging doomsday scenarios; it requires rigorous fact-checking and a willingness to present a balanced view of the evidence.
Due to failure to meet these standards, newsweek not only eroding public trust but also the legitimacy of meaningful environmental discussion.
Readers deserve better than repeated, unfounded predictions—they deserve facts. Until point of sale like this newsweek If they prioritize accuracy over hype, they will remain complicit in spreading misinformation masquerading as science.
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