Infographic: Who is at Risk from Sea Level Rise?
“Rising seas are sinking futures,” said United Nations Secretary General António Guterres in remarks to the UN Security Council in February 2023. “Sea-level rise is not only a threat in itself, it is a threat multiplier.”
He continued, “Meanwhile, the [World Meteorological Organization] tells us that even if global heating is miraculously limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, there will still be a sizeable sea-level rise. But every fraction of a degree counts. If temperatures rise by 2 degrees, that level rise could double, with further temperature increases bringing exponential sea level increases.”
These rising waters could affect one in 10 people living on Earth, undermining industries, driving displacement, and exacerbating extremism and conflict.
