Normandy, 18 August 2023
As the tide rises, four boys find themselves on the front lines, defending their island against the relentless onslaught of water. They know that their island is at stake, and they refuse to yield to the encroaching waves.
But beyond their small island, the threat of rising seas looms large. In urban coastal settings worldwide, vital infrastructure hangs in the balance. Roads, bridges, subways, and power plants—all are vulnerable to the relentless march of the sea.
The rising of waters, a consequence of climate change, presents a grave and pressing challenge to communities worldwide. As global temperatures continue to climb, polar ice caps melt at an alarming rate, causing sea levels to rise. Coastal regions face the threat of inundation, with low-lying areas increasingly prone to flooding and erosion. The impact of rising waters extends far beyond the shoreline, disrupting ecosystems, displacing populations, and jeopardizing critical infrastructure. Storms reach farther inland, leaving destruction in their wake. Meanwhile, nuisance flooding becomes more frequent, effecting communities and economies in a disruptive manner.