Construct a drain from bottommost part of Death Valley and Dead Sea to the same level in the Pacific and the Mediterranean. Use the tidal movement for generating electricity and open these areas to serve as fishing resources and habitat.
I am doing MORE than my fair share here. If people settle on coastlines and riverbanks close to coastlines that is not my fault. They are creatures of habit.
However, if the ocean levels rise, so will some more land rise without our intervention.
Also, I have to focus on things which lie within my power to change.
People are hardheads, but dirt can be moved and pipelines for seawater can be constructed, even very large ones. Further, the distances are manageable.
For more power, a dam could be constructed at the mouth of the Sea of Cortez. Many drop down impellers along the top. Have not solved the Whale Gate though.
There could be seawater reservoirs in many other places on a smaller scale for power.
Some islands ringed by mountains could generate their own power this way.
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AsHmtGF8RZZB0Ngz_.lHcdR52PAI?p=islands+ringed+by+mountains&fr=my-myy&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8
It is important to do it in a way that will not cause erosion. The added source of fish is one of the biggest pluses to my thinking.
Basalt channels may be possible in various places.
Perhaps ways could be found to increase snow in polar areas, if non-controversial methods are involved.
In the same tactic ways could be found to increase rain over drought and desert areas. Water fences along some mountain ridges would help. But better water storage and dams would be a necessary accompanying factor.
Water Generation Towers and their proliferation might help somewhat. Search on "Atmospheric Water Generation."...
Water should be for everyone.
Perhaps in the future they might find a way to make the earth spin faster. That would be a biggie, every second off a day lowers the level of the oceans in the temperate zones and on to the poles.
An incredible volume could be kept at the equator that way. If the ice volume of the polar caps increases to previous levels, the earth spin could be reduced accordingly.