6 Cities That Will Be Most Impacted by Climate Change in the Next 20-50 Years

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the world today. Global temperatures have risen to new records even in just the last few years, and already exposure to indoor and outdoor air and water pollution costs at least nine million lives a year, according to the UN Environment’s 2023 Global Environmental Outlook report. And in the U.S., the cities that will be most impacted by climate change in coming decades tend to be coastal—and heavily populated. If you live in one of them—or are considering moving to one of them—it pays to know whether climate change is going to be an imminent threat to your way of life.

Of course, climate change happens gradually. The cities that will be most impacted by climate change may not currently be showing any signs of disruption (though, as for the ones below, signs are already quite clear). Likewise, a change of a temperature or two might not seem like such a big deal right now, particularly when it comes to a city that you love. But looking forward, climate change poses a significant threat to many U.S. cities, and it’s a good idea to be aware. Here are six American cities that might not look the same in the next 20 to 50 years, and what’s currently being done to help stave off disaster.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana Ice mass loss from Antarctica means rising sea levels and sinking land—a problem that is poised to effect the Gulf and East Coast states the most. Among them: New Orleans, which is already 50 feet below sea level and faces the dual problem of rising sea levels and rapidly increasing rainfall, all of which may mean that it is quite literally under water by 2050. What they’re doing about it: It isn’t all doom and gloom in the Big Easy. In 2023, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority unveiled a $50 billion master plan to combat climate change that includes structural and non-structural risk reduction projects such as new marshes and flood-proofed buildings.
2. New York, New York For a piece titled “NYC 2050: Climate Change and the Future of New York,” WNYC News and NBC 4 New York looked at a few of the ways that New York City will likely be affected by global warming in the next several decades. Among the expected problems: short and wet winters, long and hot summers, an increase in hurricanes, and a rising Atlantic Ocean that may return parts of the city to its wetland roots. What they’re doing about it: New York City’s climate change effects are expected to be exacerbated by some unique factors: in particular, the city’s ever growing population and the very way that its infrastructure was built—“upside down,” with low-elevation floodplains housing the most people, circuitry, and utility plants. In the future, according to the report, expect to see homes, sewage treatment plants, and railway lines built up on higher ground.
3. Miami, Florida Miami has been called “ground zero” for climate change. That’s mostly because it’s built on industries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change—tourism and agriculture—and it already experiences year-round warmth that allows things like mosquito-borne illnesses to proliferate. Add to that sea level rise and even warmer temperatures and the Miami of the future may look a lot different (and sparser) than it looks today. What they’re doing about it: Because the effects of climate change in Miami could be so devastating—and are, in some ways, already coming to fruition—the city has been acting. Recently, they passed the Miami Forever Bond, a $400 million investment in protecting the city’s homes, streets, and general infrastructure.
4. Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix is America’s fifth largest city. It’s also one of its hottest. And with global warming, there’s a real fear that the city could be virtually unlivable in 2050, with summer temperatures rising three to five degrees and an expectation of 132 days a year with temperatures above 100 degrees fahrenheit. There’s another problem too: droughts, and the fact that the Colorado River Basin looks to be slowly drying up, meaning significantly less water for the city’s inhabitants. What they’re doing about it: A lot of Phoenix’s climate change plans revolve around heat mitigation, notably more tree cover and cool roofing. The city is also focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and progressive plans for new water sources.
5. Los Angeles, California Climate change in Los Angeles is happening from multiple angles, including rising temperatures, increased fire rates, rising sea levels, and big risks to the city’s water supply (drought among them). Southern California could lose 31-67% of its beaches, predicted a 2023 study, a problem that will effect both tourism and real estate. And higher temperatures mean more fires, less agricultural production, and a growing threat of hyperthermia. None of it makes for a very habitable environment. What they’re doing about it: Los Angeles has been at the forefront of city-wide actions to combat climate change. This includes efforts to lower the city’s temperature (more shade, more solar power, cooler infrastructures) and rationing water usage. And the entire state of California is working to achieve 100% clean energy by 2045.
6. Honolulu, Hawaii It’s probably not surprising that, as an island, Hawaii is particularly prone to the effects of climate change. King tides, a colloquial term for especially high tides that can wipe out roads and beaches, are happening more frequently, and the city is on track for sea levels to rise by as much as three feet by the end of the century. There are also significant temperature increases happening, with the rate of air warming quadrupling in Hawaii in the past four decades. What they’re doing about it: Honolulu has been seeing climate change in action for quite a while. As such, they city has been hard at work enacting a Climate Action Plan with clear cut goals for reducing carbon emissions, embracing more clean energy, and growing awareness about the climate change threat.

What this all means

This is hardly an exhaustive list of the cities that will be most impacted by climate change in the coming decades. Major cities in the Southwest, Gulf Coast, and East Coast are all at heightened risk, and even in areas like the Midwest there’s a growing threat of flooding and rising temperatures.

So what does it all mean for you? If you’re planning a move to—or currently living in—a city that is poised to take on the worst of climate change, it’s time to get work. Participate in your city’s climate change mitigating efforts, whether it means abiding by water rations, aiming to use more clean energy, or opting for public transportation over your own car when possible.

You may also want to check out areas that are more likely to avoid upcoming climate disasters. Business Insider talked to climatologists and found that cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota; Boulder, Colorado; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and San Diego, California are less vulnerable than other U.S. cities thanks to geographical placement and current action plans.

It’s pretty undeniable at this point that many of the country’s cities are going to look different in the next 20 to 50 years. Being aware is a good starting point for all of us, and doing our part to spread that awareness—and to mitigate climate change’s effects—is equally crucial. Don’t despair, but do get to work.