Sea Levels Could Rise at Fastest Rate in Human History

Without the emissions cuts laid out in the Paris agreement, global temperatures could reach 2 C as early as 2040 and cause the fastest acceleration in sea level rise in human history, according to a new study.

Sea levels could rise up to a foot in the most vulnerable cities by mid-century, with the rate of sea level rise reaching 6 millimeters per year by 2040 and more than 10 millimeters a year by the end of the century. The current rate of sea level rise is estimated to be around 3.4 millimeters a year.

“If warming continues above 2 degrees Celsius, then, by 2100, sea level will be rising faster than at any time during human civilization,” the study says.

For a deeper dive:

Washington Post, Mashable

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for daily Hot News.