Bangladesh is going to face devastating economic fallout as a coastal nation due to the accelerating threat of rising sea levels.
The rising sea levels are imperiling livelihoods, ecosystems and coastal economies worldwide including Bangladesh, warned António Guterres, the Secretary-General of United Nations at an UN General Assembly.
He also demanded urgent global action on the matter issuing a stark warning about the accelerating threat of rising sea levels, which now imperil nearly one billion people living in low-lying coastal regions of the world.
“The economic fallout will be devastating, with fisheries, farming, and tourism all suffering severe damage. Coastal nations such as Bangladesh, India, the Netherlands, and the Philippines face some of the most severe risks, with millions of lives and livelihoods hanging in the balance,” the UN chief warned.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, the UN chief described the situation as “a rising tide of misery,” with communities facing increasing vulnerability to coastal erosion, storm surges, and catastrophic flooding.
Over the past century, global mean sea levels have risen faster than at any point in the past 3,000 years, a trend that is likely to continue as the planet heats up, reports thehighstreetjournal.com.
NASA reports that as global temperatures have increased by approximately one degree Celsius, sea levels have risen between 160 to 210 millimeters—about six to eight inches. Half of this rise has occurred since 1993, as a result of both melting glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater.
This relentless rise threatens not only human lives but also vital industries such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, which are central to the economies of many coastal nations.
Guterres emphasized the wide-ranging consequences, warning that entire communities are at risk of being “swamped,” with freshwater supplies contaminated by saltwater intrusion, infrastructure destroyed by relentless waves, and biodiversity decimated.
The ocean, which has long been seen as an ally in the fight against climate change due to its ability to absorb excess atmospheric heat, is now being pushed to its limits. Scientists have noted that the warming of ocean water causes it to expand, contributing significantly to the rising sea levels.
This mechanism, combined with melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, has driven up water levels worldwide, creating a pressing crisis for coastal nations.
Last month, Guterres described the situation as “a crisis entirely of humanity’s making.” He added that the ocean, once a source of life and sustenance, is now “overflowing” as a result of unchecked carbon emissions and environmental degradation, the report added.
The loss of coastlines, freshwater contamination, and the destruction of key ecosystems are all consequences that could become irreversible if immediate action is not taken.
The UN has stressed that one in ten people globally lives near the coast, making them highly vulnerable to future flooding and erosion. In nations like China, Pakistan, and the Maldives, entire cities and villages are already planning relocation strategies, bracing for a future where rising tides become an existential threat. The time to act, the UN warns, is now—before the consequences of inaction become too dire to reverse.
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