News Climate

Economic costs of rising seas will be steeper than we thought, unless we prepare

A study estimates 4 percent in annual global GDP losses by 2100 unless coastal regions prepare

flooded street

Rising seas could cost the world more than 4 percent of global GDP each year by 2100, unless countries prepare now for more coastal flooding. The Chinese city of Guangzhou, where storms helped produce record flooding in July 2017 (shown), could see steep losses from sea level rise.

Wei Shiming/Xinhua/Alamy Live News

By Megan Sever

- More than 2 years ago

Rising seas that swamp cities and coastal infrastructure could cost the world more than 4 percent of the global economy each year by 2100 — far more than previously estimated — unless urgent action is taken both to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare for such impacts from climate change, a new study finds.