Sea levels are rising due to melting ice caps and glaciers from "summary" of The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells
The ice caps and glaciers of the world are melting more rapidly than scientists had anticipated even a decade ago. As a result, sea levels are rising at an alarming rate. The Greenland ice sheet, which holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 20 feet, is shedding ice at a rate of 250 billion tons per year. The West Antarctic ice sheet is also disintegrating, a process that could increase sea levels by another 10 feet. These ice sheets are melting so quickly that they are causing sea levels to rise at a rate of 3 millimeters per year, a pace that is expected to double by 2050. The consequences of rising sea levels are dire. Low-lying coastal areas around the world are already experiencing increased flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources. Entire islands are at risk of disappearing beneath the waves, displacing millions of people and disrupting ecosystems. In cities like Miami, Jakarta, and Shanghai, the threat of inundation looms large, with billions of dollars of infrastructure and property at risk. The effects of rising sea levels are not limited to coastal areas. As the oceans encroach further inland, they threaten to submerge critical infrastructure, such as ports, airports, and power plants. This could have cascading effects on global trade, transportation, and energy production. In addition, the displacement of populations due to sea level rise could lead to increased competition for resources, political instability, and conflict. The melting of ice caps and glaciers is driven by human-induced climate change. The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet. This warming, in turn, accelerates the melting of ice and the rise of sea levels. If we do not take immediate and drastic action to reduce our carbon emissions and transition to a sustainable energy system, the consequences of rising sea levels will only worsen. The time to act is now, before it is too late.
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