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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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Does the Coronavirus crisis call for stimulus packages to boost infrastructure?

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Stimulus packages to boost infrastructure investment will likely be an important policy tool used  local governments to shore up the economy, job and consumption markets on a long-term basis, Chinese analysts and industry experts said.

Does the Coronavirus crisis call for more stimulus packages by the South African government on infrastructure to shore up the economy and jobs on a long term basis?


Stimulus packages to help sustain economic momentum


In China 20 provincial and municipal governments announced a series of infrastructure investment projects worth nearly 7.6 trillion yuan ($1.09 trillion yuan) this year, indicating the nation is injecting growth momentum into the economy after an extended period of slowdown caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Zhang Yansheng, a senior researcher at the Beijing-based China Center for International Economic Exchanges, believes that unlike monetary measures, higher investment in the infrastructure sector is a practical way to deal with the economic slowdown and stimulate manufacturing activities. It can also help regain economic vitality, he said.

Infrastructure accounted for 31.2 percent of China's GDP growth last year, while consumption and exports contributed 57.8 percent and 11 percent respectively, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

Chinese provinces and major cities will not only speed up investment in the development of traditional infrastructure categories such as railroad and regional airport development, but also add resources to public health services, 5G networks and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, amid efforts to mitigate the impact of the epidemic outbreak, said Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council.

These infrastructure projects can also bring growth points to global companies looking to jointly develop businesses across the country, Zhang said.

In terms of enhancing the weak links of infrastructure, the government will also enhance construction in causes such as poverty alleviation, transportation and energy, people's livelihoods and the renovation of old urban residential areas, according to new policy measures released by the National Development and Reform Commission.

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