Vanishing destinations: Places at risk of being submerged by rising seas

With climate change causing rising sea levels, many places worldwide face the existential threat of being submerged. From island nations to major cities, the impact of coastal erosion, flooding, and extreme weather events is becoming more evident. The places mentioned below are just a few examples of regions facing the threat of being submerged due to climate change.

The Maldives, a tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean, is one of the most endangered places on Earth due to rising sea levels. Comprising around 1,200 coral islands, the country has an average elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level. Scientists warn that if global temperatures continue to rise, much of the Maldives could be submerged by the end of the century.

Kiribati, a Pacific island nation with 33 atolls and reef islands, is at severe risk of disappearing as sea levels rise. The country’s capital, South Tarawa, is experiencing extreme coastal erosion, and freshwater supplies are increasingly contaminated by saltwater intrusion. In 2014, the government purchased land in Fiji as a contingency plan, fearing that Kiribati could become uninhabitable within the next few decades.

With an average elevation of just 2 meters above sea level, Tuvalu is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change. The small island country, located between Australia and Hawaii, experiences frequent flooding, and parts of its landmass are already disappearing.

Bangladesh is home to over 160 million people, many of whom live in low-lying coastal regions. The country is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, which threaten to displace millions. The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest and home to the endangered Bengal tiger, is also at risk of being lost to the rising waters.

Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world. Excessive groundwater extraction has caused parts of the city to sink at an alarming rate—some areas are sinking by up to 25 centimeters per year. Combined with rising sea levels, Jakarta is facing a dire future.

Venice, known for its beautiful canals and historic architecture, has been battling rising water levels for centuries. However, climate change has intensified the problem, leading to more frequent and severe flooding.

New Orleans, located along the Gulf of Mexico, is already below sea level, making it highly vulnerable to hurricanes and rising waters. The city has suffered devastating flooding events, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which left large parts submerged.

Nauru, the world’s third-smallest nation, is grappling with coastal erosion and rising sea levels. With much of the island uninhabitable due to phosphate mining, residents are forced to live along the coast, where they are directly exposed to rising waters and extreme weather events. The government has launched a citizenship-for-sale program to fund relocation and climate resilience projects.

The Solomon Islands, a Pacific nation consisting of nearly 1,000 islands, has already lost several of its smaller islands to rising sea levels. Coastal erosion is forcing communities to abandon their homes and move further inland, but the country’s mountainous terrain limits relocation options.

Shanghai, China’s largest city, is at long-term risk of being submerged due to a combination of land subsidence and rising sea levels. The densely populated metropolis, home to over 24 million people, sits on the Yangtze River Delta, an area highly susceptible to flooding.