Imagine the world’s most beloved landmarks being engulfed by the sea in our lifetime? That’s not some distant dystopia it’s an actual risk if collective action stalls. Experts are warning that unchecked emissions may raise global temperatures by 3°C within 30 years, unleashing sea level rise that redraws coastlines and inundates cities we thought we had protected.
From palace to beach hotel, climate projections and visual models are painting a grim vision of what 2050 could be. These are not just destination resorts these are cultural landmarks, economic engines, and living heritage. To lose them would be to erase parts of our common identity. Here’s a closer look at seven iconic landmarks already in the climate risk zone, what’s driving the danger, and why the clock is ticking to preserve them.
1. Buckingham Palace’s Royal Grounds Underwater
London’s Buckingham Palace has been an emblem of British heritage for centuries, but by mid-century, its grounds could be turned into a waterlogged moat. Climate Central predicts that without drastic emissions cuts, sea levels could swamp parts of the city. While London’s Thames Barrier has shielded it since 1982, authorities caution it might not survive past 2070. About 23% of the city’s population nearly 2 million people are likely to be displaced from their homes if defenses are not bolstered. The palace itself might remain structurally intact, but its historic ceremonial rooms might be forever changed.
2. Dubai’s Glittering Skyline at the Water’s Edge
Dubai’s futuristic skyline, crowned by the Burj Khalifa, was built with spectacle in mind, but much of it sits just above sea level. The city’s luxury resorts and artificial islands are especially vulnerable, with shifting sand foundations and no large-scale sea defense strategy in place. Past flooding as a result of heavy rains has already damaged infrastructure, and with the anticipated rises in sea level, nearly all coastal constructions would be underwater by 2100. The World Islands project previously a status symbol has already seen parts being consumed by the sea.
3. Statue of Liberty’s Liberty Island Threat
Few symbols of liberty are as widely recognized worldwide as the Statue of Liberty. But Liberty Island is low-lying, and it’s very susceptible to high-tide flooding and storm surges. Coastal flooding has already been happening three times more often in the U.S. than it did 30 years ago, and by 2050 will happen ten times as often. Climate Central reports that during extreme flood events, much of the island’s shoreline can become inundated, threatening visitor access along with infrastructure.
4. Sydney Opera House Standing Up to the Waves
Australia’s sail-like Sydney Opera House is perhaps the world’s most snapped building. However, standing in the harbor, it’s due for sea-level rise and storm surges. It’s estimated that by 2050, extreme coastal flooding events will occur annually, affecting adjacent walkways and performance spaces. Climate risk assessments have been started by the Opera House Trust but, short of curbing global emissions, adaptation will only delay the inevitable.
5. Mumbai’s Cultural Treasures in Peril
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum, along with much of the city’s historic core, could be underwater within decades. India’s coasts are warming faster than the global average, and 420 million people in the country live along or near the ocean. NASA sea level measurement predicts a 0.23 m rise by 2050 for parts of India’s west coast, enough to amplify monsoon and cyclone flooding. For Mumbai, where old cities and high populations overlap, the combination of heat waves, drought, and flooding is a cultural and humanitarian disaster.
6. The Hague’s Peace Palace in Peril
The Hague’s Peace Palace, seat of the International Court of Justice, is a beacon of diplomacy. Yet some of the Netherlands is already submerged below sea level, and even with the best-in-class flood protection, the country is already on an upward risk curve. It is estimated that without severe adaptation, record sea levels could break through existing defenses by the turn of the century. The area surrounding the palace could find itself subject to regular flooding, eroding both its function and symbolism.
7. Paphos Castle: A Cultural Gem on the Frontline
Medieval Paphos Castle, on the west coast of Cyprus, sits atop an ancient breakwater, its stone walls already resisting seawater intrusion. Research by Cypriot scientists suggests that salt crystallization is weakening its porous stone, and Climate Central maps suggest parts of its base could be permanently inundated under high sea level rise projections. Conservationists are proposing two-tiered buffer zones environmental shields to water-deflecting and monitoring zones to track threats as a template for protecting coastal heritage worldwide.
The fate of these icons is not sealed yet, but the clock is ticking. There is a history on every site that transcends borders, and to lose them would be to lose irreplaceable pages of human history. Stabilizing defenses, implementing new strategies, and most crucially cutting greenhouse gas emissions can still rewrite the script. Maintaining these symbols is not just about saving buildings; it’s about safeguarding the cultural and affective foundations that unify us.
