Sea-level rise (SLR) increases flooding risks at coastal facilities that store or generate hazardous materials. A study conducted by a series of university researchers, including our ERGies, has found that SLR, and therefore, the flooding of hazardous sites is most likely to impact marginalized communities across the United States at disproportionate rates.
After conducting a nationwide equity assessment of flood risk at hazardous sites in the U.S. due to SLR, the researchers derived probabilistic flood-risk estimates for 2050 and 2100 across a broader set of contamination sites and facilities that store, handle, produce, or release hazardous substances. By assessing geographic distributions and population behaviors, the researchers were able to characterize inequities in communities most impacted by flood risks at hazardous sites.
Published in Nature Communications, this study was also covered by The Guardian, ABC News, and U.S. News & World Report, as well as other major media outlets. To read more about the study, please visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65168-2