Historical Map, 2016 Flood Progression map : 36' SLR, Vintage Wall Art

“Climate risks are not new for Boston, but they will continue to increase as the global climate changes.” Published in Climate Ready Bostonâ€s final report from December 2016, this statement speaks to the past and future efforts by the City to adapt to coastal conditions. Established in 2015, Climate Ready Boston is “an initiative to develop resilient solutions to prepare our City for climate change.” The initiative consists of four components, including updated climate projections, vulnerability assessment, focus areas (geographic locations), and climate resilience initiatives. By the end of the 21st century, sea levels will rise at least thirty-six inches or more, according to this model by Climate Ready Boston. In this long-term outlook, from about 2070 onward, extensive areas of the city will be exposed to flooding, including inland neighborhoods such as the South End. Five percent of Bostonâ€s total land area in the late century will be flooded at high tide at least once a month, even with clear weather. In this map, you can see the Shawmut peninsula is predicted to revert to the shape it was in 1630 in the Downtown region, indicated by white areas.