South Korea unveils the world’s first floating city

South Korea and the United Nations have presented the prototype of a floating and sustainable version of a city that looks like a maritime platform.

Last November, the developer of the project, which will be built near the port city of Busan in South Korea, unveiled the outline of the project.

The UN is also interested in the idea, as it sees the city as a way to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels caused by climate change. Since 1880, average sea levels around the world have risen by 20 to 30 cm.

In late February, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released an alarming report that states that “sea level rise poses an existential threat to some small islands and low-lying coastlines.”

The world’s first floating city will be built opposite the port city of Busan. The prototype consists of interconnected platforms totaling 15.5 acres.

Each modular piece of the city is designed for a specific purpose, such as living space, research facilities or housing. Bridges connect the different platforms.

Initially, officials envision a community of 12,000 people with the ability to expand the city to accommodate more than 100,000 people. The floating city will be self-sufficient, with solar panels and treated and recycled water.