Optimists will not be surprised that Norfolk, VA has issued a series of flood maps to highlight which parts of the area are at risk from floods. Such information is a necessary step to help households and firms adapt to the "new normal". We are not passive victims. Now that land owners know what challenges they face, they now have no excuses for not searching for solutions. This creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs. Will some land need to be evacuated? Of course. Should those land owners be compensated for their loss? I'm not so sure but the lawyers can settle that one.
For the optimists to sleep well at night, we need the GIS nerds in Norfolk to continue to update their maps to reflect the best climate science. These maps act as a leading indicator of the challenges that coastal communities face and self interested, forward looking investors have strong incentives to incorporate these new insights in their planning. This is the optimism of Climatopolis at work!
