Scientists warn sea level rise will become unmanageable at 1.5C global heating

Scientists warn that limiting global warming to 1.5C is crucial to avoid catastrophic impacts, including unmanageable sea level rise.

The study highlights that the loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica has quadrupled since the 1990s, making it the main driver of rising sea levels.

Prof. Chris Stokes from Durham University stated, "We’re starting to see some of the worst-case scenarios play out almost in front of us." He emphasized that at the current warming of 1.2C, sea level rise is accelerating at rates that could become unmanageable by the century's end.

The report indicates that even a modest 20cm rise by 2050 could result in annual flood damages exceeding $1 trillion for the world's largest coastal cities. Without protective measures, the impacts on lives and livelihoods could be devastating.

The pace of sea level rise has doubled in the last three decades and is projected to double again by 2100, reaching about one centimetre per year. The IPCC has projected a likely rise of 40 to 80 centimetres by 2100, depending on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, but did not account for ice sheet contributions due to uncertainty.

Scientists warn that sea level rise will become unmanageable at just 1.5C of global heating, potentially leading to catastrophic inland migration. The loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica has quadrupled since the 1990s, driving significant increases in sea levels and flood risks worldwide.