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>> >>AMITA: SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY STUDIES CLIMATE CHANGE.
HE PART OF HIS RESEARCH WAS USED TO DRAW THE MAP.
RESEARCH HE SAYS ISN'T CREATED IN A VACUUM. >> SPEAKER 8: IN OUR CASE, WE TRY TO PROVIDE
FAIRLY UNBI BIAS INFORMATION THE DECISION MAKERS CAN USE AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T WANT
TO LOOK AHEAD. SO THERE'S I THINK AN OBLIGATION FOR SCIENTISTS
TO RAISE THESE FLAGS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION. >> >>AMITA: SO FAR TWO CHIEF AGENCIES THE
PORT DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO HAVEN'T DONE MUCH WITH THE INFORMATION IN THE MAPS.
AS THEY RELATE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. PUBLICLY PORT COMMISSIONERS SAY THE AGENCY
MUST PLAN FOR SEA LEVEL RISE WHICH IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 18 INCHES TO
FOUR FEET U LANG THE SAN DIEGO TIDE LINE BY 20 GIVE. THIS IS FORM COMMISSIONER SCOTT PETERS
JUST DAYS BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN NOVEMBER.
>> SPEAKER 8: IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT LIKE THIN THIS ON OUR WATER FRONT RGS WE NEED
TO BE READY FOR SEA LEVEL RISE. IT WOULD BEÊ IT WOULD NOT BE SMART TO NOT
CONSIDER THIS. >> >>AMITA: PETERS AND HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES
ON THE PORT ARGUED AN ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS THAT THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THEM TO FACTOR
IN FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.
AND HE AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN SEPTEMBER TO MOVE AHEAD WITH
THE PROJECT WITHOUT TAKE NOTHING TO ACCOUNT THE FLOOD MAPS.
SAN DIEGO MAYOR BOB FILNER REFUSED TO GRANT AN INTERVIEW ON THOSE MAPS.
DURING THIS MONTH'S STATE THE CITY ADDRESS, HE SAID SAN DIEGO MUST RESPOND TO CLIMATE
CHANGE. >> SPEAKER 8: RISING SEA LEVELS DEMAND THAT
WE PLAN NOW TOO, PROTECT OUR VITAL COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DON'T CARE WE'RE GOING TO SAVE OUR BEACHES BY CONTINUING TO PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND.
>> >>AMITA: FILNER SAID HE'S OPTIMISTIC THE EXPANSION WILL BEGIN SOON.
OPTIMISM ASIDE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT WILL HAPPEN.
BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION VOTES ON THE PROJECT, SEA LEVEL RISES QUICKLY TO
COME UP. COMMISSION PLANNER DIANA LILY SAYS SHE'S AWARE
OF THE MAPS AND DOES BT NT THINK THEY SHOULD BE DISMISSED.
SHE SAID WE CERTAINLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND HOW IT AFFECTS
THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. THE MARKET MAY ALSO CARE.
THE 520ÊMILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WOULD BE FINANCED BY BOND INVESTORS.
AND THEY LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THERE ARE RISKS. >> SPEAKER 8: WHEN IT AFFECTS AN INVESTOR,
WOULD IT BE VALUABLE IN R INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT THE PROJECT FOR WHICH THE FUNDS ARE BEING
RAISED COULD BE UNDER WATER BEFORE THE BOND WAS PAID OFF TO ASK THE QUESTION IS TO ANSWER
IT. YES, THAT SHOULD BE DISCLOSED.
>> >>AMITA: GARY IS A SECURITIES ATTORNEY IN SAN DIEGO.
HE SAYS THE CITY CAN BE CLEVER ABOUT WHAT IT REVEALS.
>> SPEAKER 8: YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY THERE IS THIS RISK, YOU MAY MARGINALIZE IT
IN SOME WAY BUT IT HAS TO BE ACCURATELY PRESENTED. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SAY AND WE HAVE A RESERVE
TO COVER THAT. >> >>AMITA: MITIGATION MEASURES FOR SEA LEVEL
RISE INCLUDE SEA WALLS. RICHARD G IS A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY. HIS RESEARCH WAS ALSO USED TO CREATE THE MAPS.
HE SAYS BUILDING A SEA WALL TO PROTECT AN EXPANDED CONVENTION CENTER WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL
BARRIERS ELSEWHERE ALONG THE SAN DIEGO BAY. >> SPEAKER 8: ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS IN THE
AREA SINCE THE WATER HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE IN THE AREAS WHICH ARE NOT ARMORED IN SOME WAYS
YOU MAKE THE FLOODING WORSE. SO IF WE ARMOR DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO BUT WE DON'T
ARMOR CORONADO AND DON'T ARMOR THE MIDWAY SPORTS SPORTS ARENA AREA, THE FLOODING MIGHT
IN FACT GET WORSE IN THOSE AREAS. >> >>AMITA: WHAT'S MORE THE SEA WALL SAID
SEA WALLS RUN INTO THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> SPEAKER 8: THE EARTH IS WARMING, OCEAN WATER IS EXPANDING THERMALLY, AND THE GREAT
GROUND BASE ICE STOCKS ON EARTH GREENLAND, ANTARCTICA ARE PRIMARY THERE, ARE MELTING.
AND THAT'S ADDING TO THE VOLUME OF WATER IN THE OCEANS.
>> >>AMITA: IN DECEMBER A JUDGE RULED THAT THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT RAN
U FOUL OF STATE LAW BY NOT ADEQUATELY FACTORING CLIMATE POLLUTION IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REGION'S
TRANSPORTATION PLAN. THE RULING FILED A LAWSUIT IN PART BY THE SIERRA CLUB.
SIERRA CLUB ACTIVIST AS A GROUP MAY GET INVOLVED IN THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT
IF GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ULTIMATELY FAIL TO PAY HEED TO SEA LEVEL RISE PREDICTIONS.
>> SPEAKER 8: WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT SEA LEVEL RISE IS GOING TO MEAN FOR THE BUILDINGS
THAT EXIST THERE NOW. >> >>AMITA: AMITA SHARMA, KPBS NEWS.