Floating Cities: A Solution for Climate Refugees?

Abstract

Changing climatic conditions and global warming cause sea levels rising in coastal cities around the world. Climate change in these cities, which are vulnerable to rising sea levels, will create “climate refugees.” Therefore, the need to build new regions in the country they live in and suitable for new climatic conditions will arise for these people who had to migrate due to the climate crisis with the rising sea levels. Architects, technology companies, engineers, and governments are trying to develop innovative solutions to this problem. One of these solutions can be considered as “floating cities” rising with the sea, producing their own energy, food, and fresh water, resistant to tsunami and flood, sustainable, self-sufficient, and where nature and technology come together. In this context, in this study, self-sufficient floating city projects will be discussed to provide shelter for climate change refugees. For this purpose, “Oceanix City,” Maldives Floating City, and finally Aequorea project were examined. These floating cities, which are described as sustainable and self-sufficient, have been questioned about the advantages and disadvantages they offer in adapting to climate change and creating climate-resilient communities. However, the cities studied were evaluated in the context of inspiration, accessibility, power source, waste management, food production, environmental impact, safety, and social city.