Coastal flooding could put 20 percent of global GDP at peril

“A warming climate is driving sea-level rise because water expands as it warms, and glaciers are melting”

A new study claims that in the next 80 years, the global land area exposed to coastal flooding as a result of climate change is set to increase by roughly 50 percent, threatening tens of millions of people, and up to 20 percent of global GPD. The authors call for immediate action to mitigate climate change, along with the construction of greater coastal defenses to protect both people and the economy.

“A warming climate is driving sea-level rise because water expands as it warms, and glaciers are melting,” comments lead author Ebru Kirezci, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne. “Climate change is also increasing the frequency of extreme seas which will further increase the risk of flooding.”

For the new study, an international team of scientists collected extensive models and measured datasets on coastal regions across the globe, including storm surge events and other aggravating factors.

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Read more: Newatlas