Holland Can Expect 14-Inch Sea Level Rise By 2050

[hatrack]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch can expect wetter winters and a threatening rise in sea levels of up to 14 inches by 2050, said a report Tuesday by the National Weather Service.

While many countries discuss global warming and greenhouse gas emissions as theories, the Dutch see climate change as a matter of survival demanding concrete action.

"Sixty percent of our country lies beneath sea level, so the effect of a rise in the level of the oceans is very noticeable," said Melanie Schultz van Haegen, the secretary of transport and water, after receiving the report from the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute known by its Dutch acronym KNMI.

But she said there was "no acute danger" to the country's sea defenses, which are among the best in the world. The Dutch earmark more than $1.2 billion annually — around 1 percent of the national budget — to maintain and improve the dikes, dunes, pumps, sluices and windmills that work constantly to keep the country dry.

EDIT

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197471,00.html

Fox? :wtf:

[ixion]

1. Hollands 'sea defenses' are truly remarkable feats of engineering

in their own right, but especially when compared to, say, the levee system in Louisiana. :eyes:

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Unfortunately though their country is sinking faster and faster as the

land subsides. Their defenses will have to undergo major upgrades.

And I bet the sea will rise a whole lot more than 14 inches.

[jean]

2. here's another link to that article, besides Fox

http://planetsave.com/ps_mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7244&Itemid=70

[heartofthesiskiyou]

4. Thanks as soon

as I seen the FOX link I Figured I'd "wait".

Your link helped

[pepperbear]

3. It also helps to know that during a disaster, their leaders

probably won't be playing guitar in another part of the country while their citizens drown.








:hi: :hi:

(edited to add 2nd pic)

[heartofthesiskiyou]

5. I hope it never gets "forgotten"

that Katrina would have been just a big inconvienence for a few weeks or a month or so. It was the levee failures that wiped out the city in a mere cat3 Hur. Had the repukes not turned down or other wise short-changed the experts begging for levee funds would have saved the nation more then a 100 billion dollars. Instead they saved the funds so they would have as much as they could to give to the riches folks. At some point we will starve the real beast I trust.

[kestrel91316]

7. Let's not forget the seas will rise 14" EVERYWHERE. The Dutch can

handle it nicely. Bangladesh, Tuvalu, Louisiana and Florida...........not so much.

[mainegreen]

8. "God created the Earth, but the Dutch created Nederland"

or so my Dutch family likes to repeat endlessly. I have no doubt they will handle it fine. Having seen their current dyke systems up close I must say 'Holy freaking crap'. Very, very impressive, and the goverment takes the time to remind people how important upgrading and maintaining these dykes are. Not that you need to be reminded when giant towering walls holding back the ocean (or further inland ready to hold back any primary breaches) are usually in view.