Due to rising sea level, more and more coastal cities in the world are facing serious flooding, storm surges, and even submergence by 2050. Following is a list of 15 cities that have a high risk of disappearing by the middle of this century or serious flooding, along with a little bit of context on the specifics of each location’s vulnerability.
1. Jakarta, Indonesia
Threat: Sinking fast because of excessive extraction of groundwater, sea levels rising, and poor drainage.
Current Efforts: There are plans to move the capital onto Borneo, but this leaves millions of residents vulnerable.
2. Bangkok, Thailand
Threat: Bangkok is only a few feet above sea level and is sinking because of groundwater extraction and development.
Current Efforts: There are flood barriers and a new underground drainage system; however, further subsidence is an issue.
3. Venice, Italy
Threat: Seasonal flooding worsened by rising sea levels and subsidence.
Current Efforts: The construction of the flood barrier system MOSE has been developed, but long-term survival for Venice is not yet clear.
4. New Orleans, USA
Threat: Sinking due to subsidence and further sea-level rise. Hurricane Katrina gave a glimpse into its vulnerability.
Current Efforts: Improvements in levees; restoration projects in nearby wetlands, which will help absorb storm surges.
5. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Threat: Frequent floods atop fast-sinking land are accentuated by rising sea levels and rapid urbanization.
Current Efforts: Building dikes and floodgates, but the very rapid rate of urban growth complicates solutions.
6. Mumbai, India
Threat: Highly susceptible to storm surges and flooding associated with monsoons, particularly in low-lying coastal areas.
Current Efforts: Seawalls and rainfall management are being put in place, but the rise in sea levels remains an issue.
7. Alexandria, Egypt
Threat: Much of Alexandria is low-lying; thus, sea-level rise in the Mediterranean threatens its coastline, which would threaten historic sites and infrastructure.
Current Efforts: Coastal protection and water drainage systems, but insufficient against fast sea-level rise.
8. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Threat: Flooding from heavy monsoon rains and rising sea levels due to its low-lying geography and massive population density.
Current Efforts: Only a few flood defenses and less-than-adequate infrastructure are being largely outpaced by rapid urbanization.
9. Miami, USA
Threat: Given over to “sunny day” flooding because of the high tide, it is also exposed to hurricanes and sea level rise.
Current Efforts: Expensive infrastructure upgrades, including seawalls and pumping systems, are underway, but long-term resilience is uncertain.
10. Shanghai, China
Threat: Shanghai is a highly developed yet very low-lying city facing serious risks from rising seas and storm surges.
Current Efforts: Seawalls and flood barriers are being reinforced, but continued development in flood-prone areas adds risk.
11. Manila, Philippines
Threat: Vulnerability to typhoons, storm surges, and sea-level rise puts most of this city in a precarious position barely above sea level.
Current Efforts: Investment in flood mitigation systems, though challenges remain due to informal housing in vulnerable areas.
12. Lagos, Nigeria
Threat: Low-lying coastline and rapid urban development, further compounded by weak drainage infrastructure.
Current Efforts: Eko Atlantic City-a private development on reclaimed land-but does not protect the whole city.
13. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Threat: Though a lot of the Netherlands is already below sea level, rising seas demand constant management.
Current Efforts: Advanced water management and dike systems, but these are at risk regarding sea-level predictions.
14. Kolkata, India
Threat: Situated on a delta, Kolkata is threatened by flooding during monsoon seasons and sea-level rise.
Current Efforts: Construction of flood barriers, improvement of drainage is in process, yet the surrounding Sundarbans eroded.
15. Tokyo, Japan
Threat: Parts of the city are subsiding, while Tokyo Bay is open to higher seas and flooding because of typhoons.
Current measures: The floodgates, levees, and a very extensive underground system of reservoirs afford some protection, but over the longer term the risk remains considerable.
