Climate Change Makes Coastal Flooding 12 Times More Likely Than Before

The world is facing a growing threat from coastal flooding due to human-driven climate change. Sea levels have been rising since the 1960s, primarily because of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. This has made extreme flooding events far more common than in the past. Since the 1960s, human-caused warming has been the main driver of rising sea levels. Between 2000 and 2018, climate change contributed to 58% of the days with extreme water levels. Without human influence, most of today’s coastal floods would not have happened.

The likelihood of extreme sea level events has surged. Events once considered rare are now about 12 times more likely on average. Human-caused climate change alone has made these events roughly four times more probable.

Current protections for cities like New Orleans may not hold beyond the next few decades. The risk of coastal flooding continues to evolve, demanding stronger adaptation measures worldwide. Global warming is neither at its best nor worst projected scenario. Yet its impact on sea levels and flooding is already severe. Without further action, coastal communities will face even greater risks in the coming years.