According to the latest findings on elevation, in 2050 high tides have the possibility of flooding land that currently sustains more than 150 million people. This is not a projection of the future; rather, it has already become a reality threatening the world’s most famous landmarks from Buckingham Palace to Burj Khalifa. The rising shoreline is a threat in practical terms related to dangers posed in a tangible way; however, it also has implications related to culture and psychology in a non-tangible manner that is studied very superficially.
The Climate Central imagery shows iconic buildings and topographies being inundated by rising sea levels. This series of paintings is more than just a call to action the works comprise a science-driven interpretation of satellite imagery and predictions from artificial intelligence about sea levels rising. The final product is a chilling glimpse into what might lay ahead if carbon dioxide emissions are unchecked.
This listicle explores nine incredible cases where heritage, livelihood, and identity are under threat. Every case represents a part of what the world is facing, from designing flood defenses to tackling climate anxiety and what could be done before this vision comes to pass.
1. London’s Royal Icons Face Threats
Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral, echoing the history of Britain, could become enveloped by water in the decades to come as the planet will warm by 3° Celsius. London’s Thames Barrier shields London against tide surges; however, researchers believe that with the onset of the decades following 2070, the Thames Barrier may not necessarily work either. This area’s floodplain contains assets valued at £200 billion.
At this point, local activity targets flood protection levees and elevated parks. But clearly, as has become evident, any protective strategy merely buys time for this area if it does not address emissions control. The trick will be in balancing the two considerations: protection and conservation.
2. Hong Kong’s skyscraper skyline under threat
The Bank of China Tower, a iconic skyscraper in Hong Kong’s skyline, stands at a location which can experience sea-level rise flooding high business districts. A projection model has indicated recently that over 10% of Hong Kong’s population today could live below the high tide mark by 2050.
While it is true that the seawalls and schemes of reclaiming harbors have been altering the habitat of the harbor, measures to mitigate these impacts are now being stretched to their limits in light of increasing storm surge intensity. Economic disturbance in this industry will carry far-reaching implications, since it is one of the financial hubs of the world.
3. Dubai’s Coastal Wonders Languishing in
Although the Burj Khalifa towers majestically, even in the partially submerged state, the high-end waterfront infrastructure in Dubai seems to rest upon sand. This is already visible, as the flooding due to the heavy rain has caused damage to buildings like the World Islands, which are half-submerged.
The focus on prioritized return on investment for the government has led to the neglect of long resilience planning. In any other case, close to a million people are likely to be displaced by the year 2100, which will erase the identity the city has along the waterfront.
4. Mediterranean Heritage Under Siege
“From Plaza de España in Seville to Parc de la Ciutadella Park in Barcelona, the whole Mediterranean coast is threatened by two factors: sea-level rise and an increasing intensity of storms.” The present conditions of the heritage assets along the coast could result in annual loses of over €209.8 billion to the region by 2070, and this is evidenced by a total of 50 references cited under RCP
Advanced technologies, such as GIS mapping and remote sensing, are currently pointing to vulnerabilities, and sustainable tourism is being integrated into mainstream climate change adaptations. Direct investment in flood protection can reduce possible risks by as much as 98 percent, whereas imbalances in research budgets threaten some areas with being perilously unprepared.
5. Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Skyline, New York
Statute of limitations runs on the cause of action. A cause of action accrues when the plaintiff suffers the last consequence of a tort or happens on the date that the plaintiff discovers, or through reasonable diligence should have discovered, the cause of action.
“We’re very lucky in NYC to be able to work with an independent panel of scientists… They put out projections of how climate change could affect New York City every few years,” said Jainey Bavishi, Director of Recovery and Resiliency for The City of New York.
Elevated parks and flood walls are being implemented in New York City. This is part of the new resilience strategy. “We have 520 miles of coastline that really calls for a multi-level defense,” said Jane Moseley, the press secretary for the Office of Recovery and Resiliency at the NYC Mayor’s Office.
6. The Vanishing Delta of Ho Chi Minh City
Almost 45% of Ho Chi Minh City is prone to flooding with only one meter above sea levels. The reasons that cause flood events in Ho Chi Minh City include high tide, rainfall, and subsidence.
In the year 2100, there could be up to 7 million displaced persons because of being forced to leave their homes, mainly in Can Gio. Due to the construction involving the drainage of the tidal swamplands, river floods have been intensified. This highlights the significance of nature-based solutions in combination with hardening.
7. Sydney Opera House and Australia’s Coastal Resources
Sydney’s iconic building, Opera House, may soon discover that the surrounding atmosphere will be inundated with high tides and inclement weather, thanks to high seas and harsh weather patterns that are expected to threaten the shores of Australia. The tennis courts of the Australian Open in Melbourne and the airport in Adelaide will not go untouched either.
The national adaptation plans focus on climate-resilient infrastructure development, although the challenge of aligning heritage site conservation and upgrades is complex. Coastal flooding in the region is also threatening the tourism sector, which is one of the economic drivers.
8. Cope With Climate Anxiety
What there may be beneath the surface could inspire climate anxiety a justified reaction to a threat of survival. People highly prone to climate anxiety are more apt to consider climate change when weighing occupational and residential choices, according to studies. It allows a person to use methods of coping, such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, or being active within a social context. These methods help a person switch from being anxious to being active within a situation of increasing danger.
9. Cultural Loss and Global Identity
“The loss of such sites as the harbor of Alexandria in its ancient form or Diocletian’s Palace in Split could mean not only the loss of structures but also the loss of our shared humanness.” Cultural coast heritages that are protected by UNESCO, particularly in the Mediterranean, mean more than just an identity for communities; they also mean an economic life for these communities in terms of tourism.
In order for these environments to be preserved, there has to be global coordination, equality in terms of research investments, and more projections for planning these sites according to climatic data. Failing that, the world that will exist underwater in 2050 might come to be defined in terms of what it lacks rather than what it can adapt to. A world of submerged futures that exist for projections’ sake in this article can very well come to be true realities, but they do not have to be.
Every site that will be named in this article that faces threats of flooding can be considered an indicator of the point that climate change can be neither physics nor merely humans but also cultures. While global efforts in reducing carbon emissions and increasing resistance against one or more of these sites listed above are being made, it shall be through will, not opportunity, that the decision to choose life shall be made.
