Sea Level Rise: Impact on Major Infrastructure, Land and Ecosystems Along the Tamil Nadu Coast

Abstract

This report concentrates on the impacts of sea level rise on coastal infrastructure, ecosystem and land in the state of Tamil Nadu,India. It aims to highlight the financial implications of sea level rise on existing and proposed infrastructure along the Tamil Nadu coast and to provide thereby an 'early warning' of the implications of indiscriminate development close to the shoreline.The study estimates the total replacement value of infrastructure (ports, power plants and major roads) impacted by sea level rise to be about U $10-12 billion (in 2010 terms). The present value of wetlands (estimated in terms of foregone ecosystem services through 2050) impacted by sea level rise is estimated to be about US$1-4 billion. By far the largest impact will be on the land at risk, whose market value is estimated to be between US$73 billion to US$ 1.4 trillion. In comparison, Tamil Nadu’s annual Gross Domestic Product is estimated to be around US $58 billion, indicating that very significant value is at risk along the coast due to climate change impacts from sea level rise alone.

Keywords: sea-level rise, ecosystem valuation, coastal infrastructure

JEL Classification: Q29