As global leaders and delegates convene in Dubai for the annual UN climate summit, a new analysis reveals the potential inundation and submersion of previous host cities by rising ocean waters.
The escalation of planet-warming pollution has led to severe droughts, deadly floods, and the rapid melting of glaciers and ice worldwide. Scientists project a steady rise in global sea levels for many decades as temperatures continue to rise.
The analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate research group, provides visuals illustrating the risks associated with failing to curb the planet’s warming trend. According to a recent UN report, the world is currently heading towards a warming of 2.9 degrees.
Utilizing peer-reviewed sea level rise projections and data, the findings present compelling visuals depicting the contrast between the world as it exists today and the high-tide future, should the planet warm to 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Chief scientist and CEO of Climate Central, Benjamin Strauss, emphasized that the decisions made at COP28 will determine the future of Earth’s coastal cities, including Dubai.
Climate scientists report that the world is already around 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels and is expected to surpass 1.5 degrees in the near future – a critical threshold leading to a struggle for humans and ecosystems to adapt.
Back in 2015, during COP21 in Paris, over 190 countries approved the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with an even more preferable target of 1.5 degrees.
The current trajectory towards 2.9 degrees could render coastal communities, low-lying countries, and small island states unlivable.
A report by the World Meteorological Organization indicates that 2023 is on track to become the hottest year on record. The escalating global temperatures are causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt rapidly, leading to an increase in ocean water levels.
Approximately 385 million people currently live in areas that will eventually be inundated by ocean water, even with a drastic reduction in planet-warming pollution.
According to a recent study, limiting warming to 1.5 degrees would still affect land inhabited by 510 million people today. However, breaching 3 degrees could impact land inhabited by over 800 million people.
Scientists emphasize that with every fraction of a degree of warming, the consequences of climate change worsen. COP28 will address the urgent need to reduce planet-warming fossil fuels to prevent the increasing likelihood of an underwater future.
This year’s climate talks will also introduce a new scorecard for countries to assess how seriously they are off-track on their climate targets and the window to slash climate pollution is “rapidly narrowing.”
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