By Sophie Glovier
In the aftermath of the devastating Fourth of July flash floods in Texas, some pundits claimed that the tragedy is being “exploited by partisans.” Holman Jenkins in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed identified “cruel and fickle Mother Nature” as the culprit and quipped, “Tragedies happen, and not because the climate gods are taking retribution over human CO2 emissions.”
It’s dangerous and unhelpful to dismiss these floods (and the many others that have occurred so far this summer in New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri, Italy, China, Romania, Poland, India …) as simply weather events that are part of a historical pattern. The truth is this: we are not taking the risk that climate change poses to our safety seriously enough, especially when it comes to water-related impacts both inland and along the coast.
In New Jersey, where I live and work at The Watershed Institute, a 76-year-old NGO dedicated to keeping NJ’s water clean, safe, and healthy, life-threatening inland flooding is now a frequent event – not just during hurricanes, but from extreme precipitation during an everyday summer storm. New Jersey is experiencing the impact of climate change faster than the global average. Our average temperature has increased nearly 4°F since 1900, and it has been rising at twice the speed of the rest of the world for the past 50 years. As a result, the air today holds significantly more moisture than in the past – approximately 7% more moisture per 1.8°F increase in temperature, according to NASA. This makes extreme precipitation worse. Between 1958 and 2021, total precipitation on the heaviest 1% of days increased by 60%.
Even in a state like New Jersey, which is considered progressive on climate education and action, local pushback can derail smart policy. Climate change is forcing communities to face harsh realities that are hard to accept, and adaptation isn’t an easy sell – even for a coastal state that has an 83% chance of seeing our sea levels rise up to four feet before the end of this century.
Right now, NJ’s governor is facing a tough decision: whether or not to enact a rule that would require buildings in flood-prone areas along the coast to be constructed to withstand flood levels projected for the end of the century, including higher base-flood elevations and enhanced flood-resistant building requirements. The rule also mandates improved stormwater management and prioritizes nature-based solutions like living shorelines and marsh restoration.
The proposed changes have triggered opposition from residents, developers, and municipalities – especially along the coastline – who are concerned about cost increases and restrictions on future construction.
But common-sense action now will prevent heartbreak and expense later. According to a 2024 Climate Resiliency Report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, every $1 invested in climate resilience and disaster preparedness can save communities between $7 and $13 in future damages, cleanup costs, and long-term economic impacts. It is imperative to recognize that accelerating sea level rise and increases in extreme precipitation will continue – we must design and build our structures, and support our natural barriers, so we can be resilient to it. Adding green infrastructure when we redevelop our built environment, reforesting, and naturalizing detention basins can also play an important role.
Adaptation costs money and it can be hard to do – but we have to do it. We need to increase awareness of the serious risks we face from both inland and coastal flooding now, so we can move forward in making the changes necessary to protect people and property. The longer we delay, the more we put those assets – and ourselves – at risk.
Extreme precipitation and flooding will be an ongoing issue for almost all of us, inland and on the coast. Educate yourself about how climate change will affect our communities, states, and world. Get involved on a local level by supporting smart policies and business practices that factor in the future. And stay safe – please take both inland and coastal flood warnings seriously.
Sophie Glovier is the Chief of Strategy and Program at The Watershed Institute. She also is a longstanding C-Change Conversations team member.
