World's coastal settlements moving inland to avoid rising sea levels

"Scientists say that coastal properties around the world are vulnerable to flooding - and it seems people are finally realising the risk. The researchers found more than half of the world's coastal settlements are retreating inland to avoid dangers such as storms, erosion and sea-level rise. However, the poorest regions are being forced to stay put or even move closer to danger."

"Previous studies have shown that global warming is causing glaciers and ice sheets worldwide to melt, adding more water to the ocean. What's more, the volume of the ocean is expanding as the water warms - further raising the global average sea level. Coastal communities are of course not the only ones threatened by rising sea levels, as scientists think settlements further inland could go underwater in future too, but when seawater encroaches the land, coastal communities are first to feel the effects."

Coastal properties worldwide face mounting risks from flooding, storms, erosion, and sea-level rise driven by melting ice and ocean thermal expansion. Satellite nighttime light data from 1992–2019 across 1,071 coastal regions in 155 countries reveal that more than half of global coastal settlements are retreating inland to avoid these hazards. Wealthier communities and regions relocate inland where they have resources, while poorer regions are forced to remain or even move closer to danger. Rising sea levels, increased coastal erosion, and stronger coastal storms can rapidly destroy property and amplify displacement pressures.

Read at Mail Online