This Senate resolution states that sea levels are rising faster now because of human-caused climate change. It cites tide gauge measurements and says the rate of sea-level rise per year has more than doubled in the past century. The resolution names thermal expansion (ocean water expanding as it warms) as a major cause and says thermal expansion caused about 56 percent of global sea-level rise since 2014. It says the Earth has warmed at least 1.2°C and that Greenland is warming about four times faster than the global average. The resolution gives projection ranges of about 2 to 7.2 feet of average sea-level rise by 2100 depending on emissions. It also warns that ice-sheet tipping points could destabilize the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, which the resolution says could cause many additional feet of sea-level rise.
The resolution lists effects on people and places: 30 percent of people in the United States live in coastal areas; about $10,000,000,000,000 in goods and services are produced in coastal counties each year; some damage from Hurricane Sandy is attributed to increased sea levels; 3,700,000 people live on land less than 3.3 feet above high tide; high water events that used to be 1-in-100-year events are becoming 1-in-10-year events; and up to 13,000,000 people could face displacement by 2100. The resolution concludes by stating that the Senate recognizes that human-caused climate change is raising sea levels.
No publicly available information on new federal spending or cost estimates in this resolution. The resolution does cite large economic figures, such as $10,000,000,000,000 in annual goods and services produced in coastal counties and specific storm damage amounts, but it does not estimate costs for government action.
Supporters in the resolution say that tide gauges and other research show accelerating sea-level rise caused largely by warming oceans and melting ice. They emphasize thermal expansion as a big contributor since 2014, note that the planet has already warmed, and warn that ice-sheet tipping points could add many feet of sea-level rise. They point to risks for coastal communities, shrinking fresh water in coastal areas, more frequent high-water events, larger storm damage, and possible displacement of millions of people.
No publicly available information about opponents' views in the text of this resolution.