Overview

• Global sea level rise is projected to reach about one centimeter per year by 2100, even if global warming is capped at 1.5°C.
• Ice sheet loss from Greenland and Antarctica has quadrupled since the 1990s, now the primary driver of rising seas.
• At current warming of 1.2°C, accelerating sea level rise could become unmanageable within decades, with catastrophic consequences for coastal communities.
• By 2050, just 20 centimeters of sea level rise could cause $1 trillion in annual flood damages for the world’s largest coastal cities.
• Over 230 million people live within one meter of current sea levels, underscoring the urgent need for emissions reductions and adaptation measures.