Cities at Risk from Rising Sea Levels

In the 20^th century, sea levels rose by an estimated 17 centimetres, and conservative global mean projections for sea level rise between 1990 and 2080 range from 22 centimetres to 34 centimetres. ¹ Oceans, which have been absorbing 80 per cent of the temperature increase attributable to global warming, are expanding as ice sheets in the North and South poles melt. These events have led to a rise in sea levels and increased flooding in coastal cities.