New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg has unveiled plans for the city to defend itself against future storms and dangers posed by climate change, recommending the construction of anti-flood fortifications including removable floodwalls, levees and sand-dunes in low-lying areas across the city.

The mayor's report A Stronger, More Resilient New York, published seven months after Hurricane Sandy, offered 250 specific recommendations for protecting the city against storms and flooding and is one of the biggest and most comprehensive plans to defend a major U.S. city from rising sea levels and hotter summers expected as a result of climate change in the decade.

The ambitious proposal also includes the creation of an entirely new neighbourhood on the east side of Lower Manhattan, to be named Seaport City, which could create space for thousands of new residents and shield Lower Manhattan from future storms.

New York City could "do nothing and expose ourselves to an increasing frequency of Sandy-like storms that do more and more damage," Bloomberg said yesterday, "or we can make the investments necessary to build a stronger, more resilient New York - investments that will pay for themselves many times over in the years go to come."

New York City is surrounded by 838 kilometres (520 miles) of coastline and even a small rise in sea level would endanger lower-lying homes and businesses.

"This is urgent work, and it must begin now," Bloomberg said in a speech at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which was damaged by over a metre of floodwater when Sandy hit.

Bloomberg plans to amend his budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1 by adding roughly $250 million in capital expenses to cover some of the recommendations outlined in the report, his aides said.

Of the estimated $20 billion to be spent over a decade, Bloomberg said the city and federal money already allocated for Sandy relief would provide $10 billion for project, and he believes the city could get at least an additional $5 billion in federal aid.

Acknowledging the high costs involved, Bloomberg said the cost of inaction would be significantly higher.

Hurricane Sandy killed 43 people and caused $19 billion in damages and lost economic activity and if a similar storm were to strike three decades from now, the cost could jump to $90 billion, said the mayor. "This is a defining challenge of our future."

The report also includes proposals to protect the city's health care system and critical utilities, such as power and telecommunications. Bloomberg recommended requiring hospitals to meet higher standards to protect their electrical equipment, emergency power systems and water pumps. The report recommends similar requirements for nursing homes and adult-care facilities.

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