The sea is rising
The evidence is undeniable—our planet is heating up, polar ice is vanishing, and oceans are creeping higher with each passing year. By 2100, sea levels could rise by as much as 2 meters, threatening to flood, erode, and possibly swallow entire coastal cities. These are the places that may not survive the century.
New Orleans, USA
0.5 meters (1.6 feet) below sea level
New Orleans faces the threat of increased flooding due to rising sea levels and subsidence. The city's current levee system may become inadequate as sea levels continue to rise, requiring significant improvements to protect against future floods.
bvi4092, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Copenhagen, Denmark
1 meter (3.3 feet)
Copenhagen is at risk of severe flooding from rising sea levels due to climate change. Its low elevation and proximity to the Baltic Sea make it vulnerable to inundation. The city's coastal defenses may struggle to handle higher water levels and storm surges.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
1 meter (3.3 feet)
Rotterdam, Netherlands, faces a high risk of being submerged underwater. As a major port city below sea level, Rotterdam relies on dikes and barriers for protection. However, with sea levels rising, the city faces significant flood risks.
Venice, Italy
1 meter (3.3 feet)
Venice, built on waterways, is dealing with frequent flooding known as "acqua alta." Rising sea levels are expected to worsen the situation, as the city already faces issues involving low elevation and sinking foundations. The MOSE project's movable barriers may not be sufficient to protect against substantial sea level increases.
Bangkok, Thailand
1.5 meters (4.9 feet)
Perched low on the Chao Phraya River delta, Bangkok faces growing flood risks due to rapid urbanization and excessive groundwater use. Without urgent, sustainable planning, the city’s future hangs in the balance.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
2 meters (6.6 feet)
Amsterdamrelies on barriers and pumping stations against water. To improve flood protection, the city is enhancing its infrastructure through the Delta Works program, which bolsters dikes and storm surge barriers. It also includes sustainable projects like water storage and "floating" neighborhoods to mitigate flood threats.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2 meters (6.6 feet)
Situated in the vulnerable Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City is at risk of inundation from higher sea levels that result from storm activity. To address these threats, the city is implementing various measures such as improving drainage systems, constructing flood barriers, and enhancing urban planning to reduce susceptibility in flood-prone areas.
Lagos, Nigeria
2 meters (6.6 feet)
Lagos already experiences regular flooding, which is worsened by poor drainage, sinking land, and unchecked construction in flood-prone areas. Forecasts predict sea level rise in the coming decades, necessitating measures like coastal defenses, improved drainage, and green infrastructure.
Koutchika Lihouenou Gaspard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Miami, USA
2 meters (6.6 feet)
Miami is implementing various programs to minimize flooding threats, such as infrastructure upgrades, pump stations, and stormwater management systems. The city is also integrating climate adaptation strategies into urban planning, promoting environmentally friendly infrastructure, and educating residents on coastal resilience.
B137, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2 meters (6.6 feet)
Rio de Janeiro faces serious flood threats, particularly during high tides and extreme weather. With dense populations and vital infrastructure at risk, the city is taking action—upgrading drainage, building seawalls, and restoring coastal ecosystems—to defend against rising waters.
Carolina Goncalves, CC BY 3.0 BR, Wikimedia Commons
Chittagong, Bangladesh
3 meters (9.8 feet)
Situated on Bangladesh's southeastern coast, Chittagong's flat landscape and river network make it vulnerable to floods. Proximity to the Bay of Bengal exposes Chittagong to tropical cyclones that worsen coastal erosion and flooding. Climate change and heavy rainfall also amplify the threat of flooding.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
4 meters (13 feet)
Dhaka's low-lying location near water bodies makes it prone to flooding during heavy rain and storms. Rapid urbanization and insufficient drainage also result in waterlogging issues that could increase flooding risks and eventually submerge the city entirely.
Shanghai, China
4 meters (13 feet)
Shanghai, located on China's east coast in the Yangtze River Delta, faces threats from low elevation, waterways, sinking due to groundwater extraction and city infrastructure, and increasing typhoon intensity from climate change.
Mstyslav Chernov, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, Egypt
5 meters (16 feet)
Nile dams and gas drilling are primary causes of the sinking of Alexandria by as much as 3 mm per year. Rising sea levels due to global warming and melting polar ice caps also contribute to the city's subsidence.
Guangzhou, China
6 meters (20 feet)
Like Alexandria, Guangzhou’s flat terrain leaves it vulnerable to rising seas. Years of urban expansion and land reclamation have disrupted natural drainage, making flooding and waterlogging an increasing concern during extreme weather events.
Hamburg, Germany
6 meters (20 feet)
Hamburg, Germany, faces a heightened risk of flooding by 2100 due to outdated flood control measures like dikes, levees, and storm surge barriers. These structures, built using old data on sea levels and weather patterns, are struggling to cope with rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and urban flooding.
flamenc, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jakarta, Indonesia
8 meters (26 feet)
Jakarta is sinking from over-extraction of groundwater and it may be underwater as soon as 2050. The Indonesian government has approved a $33 billion project to move the capital, protecting 10 million citizens.
Karachi, Pakistan
8 meters (26 feet)
Some experts foresee Karachi being submerged by 2060 due to rising sea levels. By 2100, a temperature rise will lead to 36% glacier loss in the Hindu Kush and Himalayas, further worsening the situation.
eutrophication&hypoxia, Flickr
Kolkata, India
9 meters (30 feet)
By 2050, Kolkata is expected to experience the worst consequences of rising sea levels in India due to global warming. Studies show that the entire urban area and surrounding regions will be at risk of annual flooding, affecting more people than previously thought.
New York City, USA
10 meters (33 feet)
If global warming pushes temperatures up by 4.9°, parts of New York State—including New York City—could be underwater by 2100, according to a Climate Central map. Coastal zones would face the greatest threat from rising seas.
David Shankbone, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Houston, USA
13 meters (43 feet)
The mega-city of Houston is experiencing the negative effects of over-extraction of water, causing many areas to sink by two inches annually. Groundwater pumping causes land to sink due to changes in pressure and volume.
Mumbai, India
14 meters (46 feet)
Mumbai's subsidence is caused by urbanization and human activities. Factors such as rapid city growth have led to the loss of mangroves and wetlands that act as water absorbers in the monsoon.
Hanoi, Vietnam
15 meters (49 feet)
Northern coastal areas in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, and central regions such as Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, will face annual ocean floods by 2050. This also applies to locations like Hue and Quy Nhon.
Ngocnb, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Manila, Philippines
16 meters (52 feet)
Scientists and climate change experts say that rising sea levels result from ocean temperatures and melting ice sheets increasing due to global warming. Past research indicated that the frequency of coastal flooding in Manila is expected to increase by 18 times by 2100 compared to 2006, due to the effects of climate change.
Asian Development Bank, Flickr
San Francisco, USA
16 meters (52 feet)
San Francisco is on the frontline of climate change impacts. Beyond gentrification and development challenges, a 2009 study warns rising sea levels could displace 480,000 Californians by 2100, with property damages exceeding $100 billion.
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