Rising sea levels caused by global warming are threatening the existence of not just Tuvalu, but also Gardi Sugdub, an island off Panama's Caribbean coast. Tuvalu, a small island nation within the British Commonwealth, is facing the risk of being completely lost to climate change. Scientists predict that by 2050, 50 percent of Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti, could be regularly flooded, and by the end of the century, 95 percent of Funafuti could be underwater. The rising saltwater table is also destroying food crops and causing soil salination. Tuvalu's population has grown by 142 percent between 1950 and 2024, but the islands may become uninhabitable in the next century. Some people have already left the island, and cemeteries are becoming completely submerged. Several projects, like the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, are underway to reclaim coastal lands and extend the island into the sea [f8c2b560].
Meanwhile, Gardi Sugdub, an island off Panama's Caribbean coast, is preparing to evacuate about 300 Guna Indigenous families due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. The Gunas of Gardi Sugdub are the first of 63 communities along Panama’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts that are expected to be forced to relocate in the coming decades. The island is only about 400 yards long and 150 yards wide, with an average elevation of only half a meter above sea level. Panama estimates that it will cost about $1.2 billion to relocate the 38,000 inhabitants who will face rising sea levels in the short- and medium-term [28d3928f].
Both Tuvalu and Gardi Sugdub are facing the dire consequences of climate change and the increase in sea level. These cases highlight the urgent need for global action to mitigate the effects of global warming and protect vulnerable communities from displacement and loss of their homes and cultures.
Rising sea levels caused by climate change will also disrupt the lives of millions of Americans. Sea levels along the U.S. coastline are projected to rise around 10 to 12 inches by 2050. States on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, such as Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and Louisiana, will be worst impacted. Nuisance flooding and storm surges will become more frequent and intense. Rising sea levels will have widespread economic impacts, affecting businesses, infrastructure, and tourism. Around 129 million people, or 40% of the U.S. population, live in coastal areas. States are adapting by building sea walls, storm barriers, and improving drainage systems, but the cost is high. Cutting carbon pollution is the only way to slow the rate of sea level rise [37716cbb] [ffc2559c].
In addition to rising sea levels, land subsidence is also a significant concern in the United States. Land subsidence, a phenomenon affecting cities like New Orleans, New York City, and south San Francisco, can severely affect buildings and infrastructure, and when combined with sea-level rise, increase flooding. Research shows that problems associated with land subsidence can cost U.S. homeowners 6% of their home value, and in areas with high subsidence, that number can jump to 8.1%. Standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover land subsidence issues. Both natural processes, such as glacier recession and tectonic activity, and human-induced processes, such as groundwater extraction and heavy building materials, contribute to land subsidence. Infrastructure is often not designed to account for shifting land, putting it at risk. Experts warn that land subsidence is putting U.S. infrastructure in a precarious situation and could be costly to fix [e8d57d7a].