New jersey faces up to 4.5 feet of sea-level rise by 2100, rutgers study warns

New Jersey’s coastline is bracing for dramatic changes as a new study from Rutgers University projects potentially devastating sea-level rise over the next eight decades. The landmark research from the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center forecasts that under current global carbon emission trends, the Garden State could experience between 2.2 and 3.8 feet of sea-level rise by 2100.

However, the study’s most alarming scenario paints an even more dire picture. If ice-sheet melting accelerates beyond current projections—a possibility scientists increasingly warn about as polar regions warm—New Jersey could face up to 4.5 feet of rising seas. This level of increase would fundamentally transform the state’s 130-mile coastline and put millions of residents and billions of dollars in infrastructure at risk.

The implications extend far beyond beach erosion. Such dramatic sea-level changes would significantly increase coastal flooding risks for communities from Cape May to Sandy Hook, potentially affecting everything from daily high tides to major storm surge events. Low-lying areas that currently experience occasional flooding could face regular inundation, while storm-prone regions may become uninhabitable during severe weather events.

Notably, the comprehensive report focuses on providing scientific projections for water levels and temperature changes while deliberately avoiding policy recommendations. This approach allows the data to speak for itself, giving policymakers, residents, and businesses the foundational information needed to make informed decisions about adaptation strategies, zoning changes, and long-term planning for New Jersey’s climate-altered future.