This is what the world’s first floating city will look like

This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum.

Author: Kate Whiting, Senior Writer, Formative Content

• The world’s first prototype floating city that adapts to sea level rise has just been unveiled at UN headquarters in New York.
• OCEANIX Busan, in South Korea, aims to provide breakthrough technology for coastal cities facing land shortages and the threat of climate change.
• When built, the three interconnected platforms, totalling 15.5 acres, will provide homes for a community of 12,000 people.
• It’s one of many solutions being found to the growing issue of rising sea levels.

Housing the growing global population is one of the key challenges facing policymakers today – and one made even more challenging by climate change.

Without curbing emissions, it’s predicted more than 800 million people, living in 570 cities around the world, could be at risk from sea level rise by 2050, according to the C40 network of global cities addressing climate change.

The network estimates the cost of rising sea levels and inland flooding could reach $1 trillion by mid-century.

But it’s hoped that this sustainable floating city prototype could go some way to solving the problem of providing safe homes for vulnerable coastal communities.

World’s First Floating City

What’s the World Economic Forum doing about climate change?

Climate change poses an urgent threat demanding decisive action. Communities around the world are already experiencing increased climate impacts, from droughts to floods to rising seas. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report continues to rank these environmental threats at the top of the list.

To limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C and as close as possible to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, it is essential that businesses, policy-makers, and civil society advance comprehensive near- and long-term climate actions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Global warming can be beaten thanks to this simple plan

The World Economic Forum’s Climate Initiative supports the scaling and acceleration of global climate action through public and private-sector collaboration. The Initiative works across several workstreams to develop and implement inclusive and ambitious solutions.

This includes the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, a global network of business leaders from various industries developing cost-effective solutions to transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. CEOs use their position and influence with policy-makers and corporate partners to accelerate the transition and realize the economic benefits of delivering a safer climate.

Contact us to get involved.

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‘Solutions to global challenges’

OCEANIX Busan, based in the waters off South Korea’s second-largest city, was recently unveiled at the UN headquarters in New York. It’s a collaboration between UN-Habitat, the Busan Metropolitan City, and OCEANIX, a blue tech company based in New York.

“We cannot solve today’s problems with yesterday’s tools. We need to innovate solutions to global challenges. But in this drive for innovation, let’s be inclusive and equitable and ensure we leave no one and no place behind,” Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif said at the launch.

The floating city is designed as three interconnected platforms, totalling 15.5 acres, that will initially provide homes for a community of 12,000 people, potentially rising to 100,000, with construction due to start in 2023.

Each of the platforms has a specific purpose – living, research, and lodging – while the link-span bridges that connect them to the land create a sheltered lagoon, providing space for recreation on the water.

Floating city design has sustainability built in

Another key element of the design is sustainability. The OCEANIX Busan has six integrated systems focusing on energy, food, water, waste, mobility and coastal habitat regeneration to ensure the floating city reuses and wastes as little as possible.

Floating and rooftop photovoltaic panels will generate 100% of the operational energy needed for the city.

Each neighbourhood will treat and replenish its own water, reduce and recycle resources, and have urban farm areas to grow food.

Floating into the future

Busan is not the only floating city project being developed. In September 2021, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially opened the carbon-neutral Floating Office Rotterdam in the Dutch port, which is able to move as water levels rise.

Construction is also due to start this year on Maldives Floating City.The archipelago in the Indian Ocean is one of the most climate-vulnerable nations – with more than 80% of its land area at less than one metre above sea level.

Floating cities and offices are just one solution to the impacts of climate change on coastal communities, but many more challenges face the ocean, and urgent action is needed to address them.

The World Economic Forum convenes the Friends of Ocean Action, a coalition of over 70 ocean leaders who are fast-tracking solutions to build a resilient ocean. Projects include repurposing seafood waste, investing in zero-emissions vessels and restoring mangrove forests.