Across the globe, numerous coastal and low-lying regions face significant risks from climate change and rising sea levels.
Experts warn that by the close of the twenty-first century, various renowned landmarks could be underwater as a result of thermal expansion of seawater and the melting of ice caps.
The following eight sites are particularly susceptible to flooding caused by climate change
1. Maldives
The Maldives, a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean, is the lowest-lying nation in the world, with an average ground elevation of approximately 1.5 meters above sea level. Rising waters threaten to submerge its 1,200 islands, displacing residents and damaging its pristine beaches and coral reefs.
2. Venice, Italy
Venice, sometimes referred to as the “Floating City,” is more vulnerable to flooding as a result of land subsidence and rising sea levels. Increasingly frequent high tides, or “acqua alta,” are endangering the area’s famous canals, historic buildings, and cultural legacy.
3. New Orleans, USA
New Orleans faces a high risk of storm surges and rising sea levels due to its below-sea-level elevation and surrounding waters. Despite the presence of levees and flood defenses, scientists predict that by 2100, significant portions of the city could be submerged.
4. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is experiencing a swift decline due to groundwater depletion and escalating urban development. This situation heightens the city’s susceptibility to flooding, with projections suggesting that significant portions could be underwater by the century’s end due to rising sea levels.
5. Tuvalu
Tuvalu, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, faces significant challenges from rising sea levels and climate change. With its highest point reaching just 4.5 meters above sea level and a population of around 12,000, Tuvalu is one of the most at-risk countries globally. The encroachment of saltwater and increasing sea levels threaten the livelihoods, environment, and cultural heritage of its inhabitants, putting their habitable land in jeopardy
6. Miami, USA
Miami is highly susceptible to sea level rise because of its coastal location and fragile limestone base. While tidal flooding, commonly referred to as “sunny day flooding,” has become a regular occurrence, researchers warn that parts of Miami may be underwater by 2100.
7. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Low-lying Dhaka is heavily impacted by rising sea levels, which threaten millions of lives. Coastal flooding and saline water intrusion into agricultural lands pose significant challenges for this densely populated city.
8. Seychelles
The beautiful Seychelles islands, renowned for their biodiversity and gorgeous beaches, are in danger of sinking. In addition to endangering the islands’ ecology, rising sea levels also pose a threat to the livelihoods of the locals, who depend on fishing and tourism.
