Consider the following threats posed by climate change: rise in sea level, frequency and ferocity of storms, average atmospheric temperatures and urban heat islands, droughts, flooding, and coastal erosion. Given characteristics of the project itself (building size and use, parking, beach, roller coaster, bridge), to which threats is the project most sensitive? Next, consider aspects of the project location (coastal, low-lying, southeastern United States). To which threats is the project most exposed? Consider both current and future climates, and assume threats will worsen. Use tables similar to Tables 11.6, 11.7, and 11.8 to rate the project’s sensitivity, exposure, and vulnerability to the threats.

Based on this assessment, would you recommend going forward with the project as currently planned? If not, what changes would you suggest to increase the project’s resilience to the threats posed by climate change?

A developer purchased a plot of land located in a prime real-estate district near the downtown of a large Florida city. The developer thinks the site, currently occupied by a long-closed factory, is ideal for two 10- to 20-story buildings to contain hotels, retailers, and condominiums. Located by the Atlantic Ocean, the site, to be called Sunrise Beach, enjoys a large stretch of beach that, the developer speculates, would draw numerous tourists and affluent professionals who work in the nearby city. A quarter of the land is marshy area occupied mostly by wildlife, and the developer is considering filling this in and constructing a third high-rise building. To lure tourists, the developer is also considering mounting a small roller-coaster atop one of the buildings, similar to an attraction in Las Vegas. Automobile parking would be provided under the buildings to maximize street-level retail space.
The site is located on a low-lying sliver of land separated from the mainland by a river, which is spanned by a small two-lane bridge, built 70 years earlier to accommodate factory workers. The developer plans to widen the bridge structure to handle increased traffic.
In the last 5 years, the region was hit by three hurricanes, and the city suffered considerable storm-surge flooding. Lately, some streets flood at high tide, even on sunny days.