Rising Seas Threaten Millions Beyond Shorelines

A recent study published in Scientific Reports shows that, for the case of no coastal protection or adaptation and a mean RCP8.5 (business as usual) scenario, there will be an increase of 48% of the world’s land area, 52% of the global population and 46% of global assets at risk of flooding by 2100. Though average sea levels rise relatively slowly, the study concludes that other flooding risks, like high tides, storm surge and breaking waves, “will become much more frequent and more intense.” The study also finds that up to 171 million people are currently exposed to episodic coastal flooding – but that number could increase to 204 million people by 2050, and over 250 million by the end of the century.

The study is available here.