This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Rising sea levels might seem like someone else's problem if you live inland. But even miles from the coast, changing sea levels can affect the food we eat, the goods we buy, the energy we use and the taxes we pay.
Global sea levels are predicted to rise by between 28 and 55 centimeters (11 and 22 inches) by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. Sea levels could rise by between 63 centimeters (25 inches) and 1 meter (3.3 feet) if emissions stay at very high levels. A rise of more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) by 2100 cannot be completely ruled out.
Here's how sea-level rise is already affecting our daily lives and exposing weaknesses in everything from power supplies to infrastructure: The Fens, which spread across Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, hold 48% of England's best agricultural land and contribute over 7% of U.K. agricultural output, including about a third of England's vegetables. Much of this landscape lies at or below sea level, which leaves it vulnerable to flooding and to contamination with saline water. The land's productivity depends on an extensive network of drainage channels, pumping stations and flood defenses.
A breach can destroy crops and leave productive soil unusable for years. As homegrown produce supplies only about 60% of the food the U.K. eats, losing Fens land alone would not empty shelves, although it would deepen reliance on imports that are themselves exposed to sea-level rise and other effects of climate change. Around 85% of the U.K.'s international freight by weight and more than 80% of world merchandise trade move by sea.
A flooded terminal at Southampton, in Shanghai or on a Caribbean island delays goods bound for stores and factories far inland. Even if a port isn't directly affected by floods, there can be disruption if the infrastructure connecting it to the rest of the economy is inundated. Railroads, roads, warehouses, electrical substations and fuel distribution networks can all be affected by coastal flooding.
The resulting shortages and price increases would have serious ripple effects for households. The U.K. has three times more coastal energy facilities than any other European country. These facilities include oil refineries, fossil fuel and liquefied natural gas terminals, and nuclear power plants.
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