A study has identified 36 global cities facing severe flooding from rising sea levels, with Dublin ranking 23rd on the list and over 226 million people across all cities directly impacted
Areas of Dublin underwater due to rising sea levels(Image: coastal.climatecentral.org)
Dublin features on a list of major cities worldwide that face the earliest threat from rising sea levels.
Collectively, more than 226 million people live in these 36 cities, which are already experiencing regular flooding and increasing sea levels. The research also illustrates which parts of Dublin, along with other major cities, would be submerged if sea levels were to rise by 1.5 metres alongside a temperature rise of 3 degrees.
Dublin sits at 23rd position on the list, placing it ahead of Honolulu and behind New Orleans. Among the capital’s key tourist attractions that would be significantly impacted by rising sea levels are North Bull Island, Great South Wall and the EPIC Irish Emigration Museum.
Additional Dublin areas that would face substantial impact from rising sea levels include extensive parts of Ringsend and Sandymount on the southside, whilst Portmarnock, Howth and Malahide would be affected on the northside of the Liffey.
According to TheSwiftest.com, a 1.5 metre rise in sea levels is projected to occur within the next 80 years. However, without a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels could increase by as much as 2.5 metres by 2100.
Should such a sea-level rise take place, North Bull Island would be almost completely submerged while the Ringsend to Sandymount area would also face near-total flooding.
The study utilised the Euromonitor tool to pinpoint “36 of the most visited cities in the world that will be affected by sea-level rise.”
The 36 cities were then ranked by population to determine which would experience the most significant displacement, with over 226 million people directly impacted by rising sea levels in the future.
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