Context
A recent United Nations report warns that accelerating sea-level rise is becoming an economic and developmental emergency. Indian coastal cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata face heightened risks from permanent inundation, land subsidence, infrastructure damage and livelihood displacement.
Explanation
- Sea-level rise (SLR) occurs mainly due to thermal expansion of seawater and melting of glaciers and ice sheets caused by global warming.
- Global sea levels rose about 4.7 mm annually during 2014–23, accelerating to 5.9 mm in 2024; at least 50 cm of future rise is considered effectively locked in.
- Relative sea-level rise can be greater where land subsidence occurs simultaneously, making low-lying coastal cities especially vulnerable.
- Major impacts include coastal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, groundwater contamination and damage to transport, sanitation, energy and water infrastructure.
- Loss of mangroves, which act as natural coastal infrastructure, reduces protection against storm surges, flooding and erosion.
- Adaptation requires combining nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration with seawalls, resilient drainage, early-warning systems, local sea-level monitoring and climate-sensitive urban planning.
- Long-term measures include restricting construction in high-risk zones, protecting evacuation corridors and critical infrastructure, and managed relocation where necessary.
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