Scientists say the city’s survival depends on bold action—but time is running out.

Miami has always lived on the edge—geographically and environmentally—but now the edge is disappearing. New research shows sea levels along South Florida’s coast are rising faster than prior projections—and the land itself is gradually sinking.
Brian Mcnoldy, a climate scientist at the University of Miami, warns: “While it took 80 years for the sea level to rise a foot, the next foot is expected to occur in only 30 years.” Combined with subsidence from groundwater extraction and Miami’s porous limestone foundation, the city faces intensifying flood risks that are outpacing infrastructure and planning.
It’s not alarmism—it’s data. And the consequences are already visible in flooded streets, failing drainage, and rising insurance rates. Miami is sinking fast—and it may be too late for business as usual.