We've already crossed a tipping point of survivability for our coastal wetlands, the rate of sea level rise is way too high," he said.
The researcher warned that the city would eventually be completely cut off by surrounding waters.
"We will be surrounded by open water and New Orleans will be like a fortress in the Gulf of Mexico.
It will be like Venice, a few islands in a lagoon," Törnqvist said.
While acknowledging the emotional connection residents feel to their homes, he urged for proactive planning rather than climate denial.
"The general sentiment is that we are here, and we want to stay," Törnqvist said.
He noted that relocation efforts will be a slow, multi-generational process that must be figured out incrementally.
"I get that – I live here and I'm not planning on leaving. But we need to think differently about the city and relocation.
It will be an incremental process that involves a lot of steps. We might not know how to do it but we will have to figure this out.
Let's try to embrace it rather than deny it," Törnqvist said.
Some former residents have already chosen to move further inland due to the soaring costs of living in a high-risk hurricane zone.
"We are an indicator species – soon, other people are going to have stranded real estate assets and nowhere to turn," said Steve Picou, a musician and environmental planner.
Picou relocated 130 miles away after experiencing a massive surge in his annual home insurance rates.
