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Delta sustainability from the Holocene to the Anthropocene and envisioning the future

Author

Listed:
  • Edward Anthony

    (Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Collège de France, CEREGE)

  • Jaia Syvitski

    (University of Colorado)

  • Florin Zăinescu

    (Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Collège de France, CEREGE
    University of Bucharest)

  • Robert J. Nicholls

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Kim M. Cohen

    (Utrecht University)

  • Nick Marriner

    (CNRS, ThéMA, Université de Franche-Comté, UMR 6049, MSHE Ledoux)

  • Yoshiki Saito

    (Shimane University of Matsue)

  • John Day

    (Louisiana State University)

  • Philip S. J. Minderhoud

    (Wageningen University
    University of Padova
    Deltares Research Institute)

  • Alessandro Amorosi

    (University of Bologna)

  • Zhongyuan Chen

    (East China Normal University)

  • Christophe Morhange

    (Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Collège de France, CEREGE
    PSL-AOROC)

  • Toru Tamura

    (AIST
    The University of Tokyo)

  • Alfred Vespremeanu-Stroe

    (University of Bucharest)

  • Manon Besset

    (Bordeaux Technowest)

  • François Sabatier

    (Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Collège de France, CEREGE)

  • David Kaniewski

    (Université Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier (UT3))

  • Vittorio Maselli

    (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)

Abstract

River deltas offer numerous ecosystem services and host an estimated global population of 350 million to more than 500 million inhabitants in over 100 countries. To maintain their sustainability into the future, deltas need to withstand sea-level rise from global warming, but human pressures and diminishing sediment supplies are exacerbating their vulnerability. In this Review, we show how deltas have served as environmental incubators for societal development over the past 7,000 years, and how this tightly interlocked relationship now poses challenges to deltas globally. Without climate stabilization, the sustainability of populous low-to-mid-latitude deltas will be difficult to maintain, probably terminating the delta–human relationship that we know today.

Suggested Citation

  • Edward Anthony & Jaia Syvitski & Florin Zăinescu & Robert J. Nicholls & Kim M. Cohen & Nick Marriner & Yoshiki Saito & John Day & Philip S. J. Minderhoud & Alessandro Amorosi & Zhongyuan Chen & Christ, 2024. "Delta sustainability from the Holocene to the Anthropocene and envisioning the future," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(10), pages 1235-1246, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:7:y:2024:i:10:d:10.1038_s41893-024-01426-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01426-3
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