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Zenger
Environment
Dean Murray

Japanese Designers Plan A Floating City To Combat Rising Sea Levels

Developers N-Ark see the idea as the ocean-based version of Elon Musk's SpaceX. Japanese designers are preparing for rising sea levels - by making plans for a huge floating city. PHOTO BY @N-ARK INC/SWNS

Japanese designers are preparing for rising sea levels – by making plans for a huge floating city.

Developers N-Ark – who see the idea as the ocean-based version of Elon Musk’s SpaceX – say Dogen City would provide a self-sufficient habitat for 40,000 residents.

They explain a new economic zone called New Ocean would be resilient to climate change.

Measuring 4 kilometers (13123.36 feet) in circumference, the plan would be for inhabitants to be able to get to any point in the zone within an hour.

A range of buildings, including a sports stadium, is proposed, and properties are able to be moved by sailing them to another location.

A stretch of beach is pictured on November 15, 2021 in Ichinomiya, Japan. Japanese government experts have warned that Chiba prefecture could lose up to 90 percent of its beaches by the end of the 21st century amid expected worsening weather conditions and rising sea levels. PHOTO BY CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES

The infrastructure is circular in design to protect it from severe weather and consists of three infrastructure types.

These are a habitable ring containing the main habitable zones, an undersea data centre and medical research facilities, and flexible inner ring structures that can move freely in the inner bay.

N-Ark’s development roadmap currently earmarks the year 2030 for completion.

They explain: “New Ocean is a term intended for the ocean version of the private space business innovation “New Space” started by Space X.

“We will propose six elements (medical, food, housing, information, and electrical services) to realise New Ocean, promote the entry of various companies, and promote ocean development activities.

“Through this, we aim to create maritime innovation, and seek to create this future together with participating companies, governments, and universities.”

Produced in association with SWNS Talker

Edited by Saba Fatima and Alberto Arellano

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