Climate change-led global heating can be a little tricky phenomenon. Some people still treat it as a myth, despite a sizeable portion of the globe facing the threat. Essentially, if you are not directly affected by rising sea levels, it can all seem a little abstract.
Therefore, projects like Climate Central are important. It creates maps – based on the IPCC’s 2021 report, some of the most reliable data out there – to demonstrate parts of the globe expected to find themselves inundated due to rising sea levels by 2030.
Of course, there are plenty of variables at play. Moreover, a lot can change before 2030. Humanity could build defences, adapt cities and start taking serious action to bring the raging climate emergency under control. But if none of that happens …
Here are 10 cities likely to underwater by 2030
1. Basra, Iraq
Due to its intricate network of canals and streams, besides neighbouring marshland, Iraq’s main port city of Basra and its surrounding areas are especially vulnerable to rising sea levels.
2. Venice, Italy
In the very near future, the beautiful touristy city of Italy faces a couple of pressing threats: sea levels are rising and Venice itself is sinking by 2 mm every year.
3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Its eastern districts and the portion along the Mekong Delta are extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels. Though the city centre isn’t at risk of inundation, floods and storms are likely to rule.
4. Bangkok, Thailand
The Thai capital sits just 1.5 m above the sea level and is sinking too. By 2030, most of the coastal Tha Kham and Samut Prakan areas could disappear, as could its main airport.
5. Kolkata, India
Like Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, Kolkata in India is likely to struggle during monsoon season as precipitation has less land to run off into. But the situation in 2100 is even more concerning.
6. Savannah, US
Savannah in Georgia is part of a hurricane hotspot. But even without extreme natural disasters, this historic city could see land eaten up by the sea in the near future.
7. Khulna, Bangladesh
Khulna, the third-largest city in Bangladesh, is only 9 m above sea level. Much of the country is susceptible to extreme flooding, and Khulna seems even more at risk.
8. Nagoya, Japan
Several coastal Japanese cities are vulnerable to rising sea levels – especially during typhoon season. Most can address the threat, but Nagoya might have some problems.
9. Male, Maldives
This stunning Indian Ocean archipelago has been used to the threat of rising sea levels for quite some time. Maldives has even apparently started building a floating city.
10. Banjarmasin, Indonesia
The ‘City of Thousand Rivers’, Banjarmasin, is built largely under sea level on a swampy delta near the Barito River – expected to regularly burst its banks by 2030.
