As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, cities around the world are attempting to raise awareness and incite action with climate summits. In recent years, cities such as Shanghai, Mexico City, and Paris have all hosted international climate summits with the intention of bringing together the global community in an effort to protect the future of the planet. While these gatherings have been successful in raising awareness, they also draw attention to what sea level rise will look like for these cities in the years to come.
Shanghai, one of the most populous cities in the world, was the host of the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Despite the strides made in the conference, many Shanghai inhabitants are already feeling the effects of sea level rise. It is expected that the sea level will rise between 1m and 2m by 2100, and cities that are located in low-lying coastal or estuarine regions are highly vulnerable to flooding. In addition to Shanghai’s physical infrastructure being impacted, its ecosystem is also changing, which could result in the destruction of natural habitats.
In Mexico City, host of the 2016 climate summit of the Americas, the math is similar. The population is growing and the sea level is projected to rise ascribed to climate change. Studies project the sea level will eventually rise between 0.3m and 1.7m, carrying with it a range of different environmental, social, and economic impacts. To help mitigate the damage caused by sea level rise, the Mexican government has put into place policies such as restoring coastal wetlands and restoring coastal mangroves.
Finally, in Paris, which hosted the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the effects of sea level rise could also be catastrophic. With its large population and its well-known monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Paris could become another victim of the rising sea. The UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by the end of this century, the sea level could rise creeping up to 0.87 meters. In response, Paris has implemented an aggressive climate action plan that includes planting three million trees to restore the city’s natural ecosystem.
Despite theAdaptation measures that these cities have taken, the threat of sea level rise remains. Without acidic measures taken soon, these cities may have to face immense losses due to the effects of climate change. As such, the successful climate summits are an important step towards mobilizing global support in the face of an urgent global issue.