The answer is floods.
Much of New York is protected only by sand dunes, vegetation, or low walls. New York’s flood zones are packed with residents.
Even the city’s position works against it. New York City is vulnerable to storm surge because of its special location at the junction of the New Jersey coast and Long Island. If a storm comes, the water would be pushed into New York.
As climate change makes storms more intense and spurs rising sea levels, the danger to New York City will rise as well.
