Rapid sea level rise may see New York, London, other coastal cities under water before end of century, scientists warn

Children walk into the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California in this Oct. 4, 2014 file photo.Scientists explain that as polar ice melts due to global warming, more freshwater enters the ocean. The cold water from polar ice caps then traps warmer sea water, which causes more ice to melt. Reuters

Many scientists have already warned of rising sea levels due to global warming triggered by mankind's greenhouse gas emissions. Now the problem has become even worse. A leading climate scientist recently warned that sea levels are rising at a more rapid rate than previously expected.

The world will have to confront "sea level rise of several meters" before the end of the century that can submerge some major coastal cities including New York, London and Shanghai, according to scientist James Hansen, a pioneer of climate research.

"Parts of [our coastal cities] would still be sticking above the water, but you couldn't live there," said Hansen, whose testimony before the United States Congress a quarter century ago triggered global attention to climate change.

How exactly will this happen? Hansen and his 16 other researchers explained in their recent study that there is already an "amplifying feedback" loop that is causing rapid sea level rise.

They explained that as polar ice melts due to global warming, more freshwater enters the ocean. The cold water from polar ice caps then traps warmer sea water, which causes more ice to melt.

"We are underestimating the speed at which these things are beginning to happen," said Hansen, who also heads the Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions Program at Columbia University's Earth Institute.

At this rate, the global target to limit global carbon emissions to 2°C may not be enough to protect us from devastating sea level rise, Hansen's team warned.

"I think that the major implication of that will be that we hand young people a climate system where it's not possible to avoid a large sea level rise," Hansen said.

The study done by Hansen's team will be published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics this week.

related articles
Doomsday clock moves forward two minutes
Doomsday clock moves forward two minutes

Doomsday clock moves forward two minutes

Pope Francis calls for change in people\'s lifestyles as his encyclical letter is leaked
Pope Francis calls for change in people's lifestyles as his encyclical letter is leaked

Pope Francis calls for change in people's lifestyles as his encyclical letter is leaked

Pope Francis confronts climate change deniers, calls for cultural revolution
Pope Francis confronts climate change deniers, calls for cultural revolution

Pope Francis confronts climate change deniers, calls for cultural revolution

The heat is on: Hottest month of May recorded this year as global warming intensifies
The heat is on: Hottest month of May recorded this year as global warming intensifies

The heat is on: Hottest month of May recorded this year as global warming intensifies

\'Sixth extinction\': Human race at risk of being wiped out, scientists warn
'Sixth extinction': Human race at risk of being wiped out, scientists warn

'Sixth extinction': Human race at risk of being wiped out, scientists warn

Climate change poses \'catastrophic  risk to human health,\' experts warn
Climate change poses 'catastrophic risk to human health,' experts warn

Climate change poses 'catastrophic risk to human health,' experts warn

Francis on climate change: \'We can no longer turn our backs on reality\'
Francis on climate change: 'We can no longer turn our backs on reality'

Francis on climate change: 'We can no longer turn our backs on reality'

Looming disasters: Man can do nothing to  stop warming, rise of oceans — scientists
Looming disasters: Man can do nothing to stop warming, rise of oceans — scientists

Looming disasters: Man can do nothing to stop warming, rise of oceans — scientists

News
Calls for urgent policy reforms to address widening marriage gap between rich and poor
Calls for urgent policy reforms to address widening marriage gap between rich and poor

A new report released by the Marriage Foundation has called for urgent policy changes by the government to address what it describes as a "calamitous" marriage gap of 51 per cent between wealthy and low-income couples.

Bear Grylls talks about faith in spite of doubts at Flame 2025
Bear Grylls talks about faith in spite of doubts at Flame 2025

Grylls described faith as an adventure and a journey.

Bible sales surge by 87% as Generation Z rediscovers faith
Bible sales surge by 87% as Generation Z rediscovers faith

Bible sales in the UK have risen sharply, increasing by 87 per cent from £2.69 million in 2019 to £5.02 million in 2024, according to new data from SPCK Group and Nielsen Book Data.

Lent and Ramadan have sparked complaints over the ‘woke’ storyline in BBC Radio drama The Archers
Lent and Ramadan have sparked complaints over the ‘woke’ storyline in BBC Radio drama The Archers

BBC Radio 4’s long-running rural drama The Archers has come under fire for its recent exploration of Ramadan, with many listeners criticising the decision to feature a Christian character, Lynda Snell, fasting in the run-up to Lent.