Are We Doomed? Are We Doomed?

How High Can You Build a Seawall?

Oct 13, 2026 · 32m

Summary

This episode explores the limits of engineering against rising seas, focusing on a study predicting New Orleans will eventually be submerged. Host Ben Bradford discusses why seawalls are physically impossible on soft soil and examines global relocation strategies, from failed top-down moves in Manila to successful community-led adaptations in Fiji. The discussion highlights the "soft limits" of politics and finance, arguing that while markets and costs will drive some migration, a proactive, collaborative plan is needed to manage the inevitable retreat from vulnerable coastlines.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Con Edison Introduction: The threat of rising seas New Orleans study: Where was the coastline 125,000 years ago? Interview with Jesse Keenan on engineering limits Public backlash against the New Orleans findings Broader implications for US coastal communities Testing obvious solutions: Stopping climate change Why stopping sea level rise is too late The Dutch approach: Building massive seawalls Why giant seawalls won't work for New Orleans The physics problem: Building on sand Solution 3: Using the Mississippi River to build land Political cancellation of Louisiana's river diversion project Hard vs. soft limits: Physics, politics, and finance The necessity of managed retreat Sponsors: Progressive Insurance and Rinse Sponsor: Con Edison Jola Ajabadi's childhood in flood-prone Lagos Introduction to climate adaptation and migration Relocation example 1: Lagos self-help Relocation example 2: The American buyout program Flaws in the buyout system Relocation example 3: The failed Manila relocation Relocation example 4: Collaborative move in Fiji Scaling challenges: From small communities to cities Sponsor: Cachava Promos: Reaching Out, Wait Wait, Imperfect Paradise Market forces: How price drives migration Downsides of relying on price signals Jola Ajabadi's vision for a phased, community-led plan The urgency of proactive planning Show outro and support information Credits Sponsor: Aura
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