British policymakers seem oblivious to the rapid increase in sea levels, despite the escalating severity of storms and storm surges. The future appears grim for properties perched on eroding cliffs and vast stretches of valuable farmland along the east coast, already dangerously close to or below sea level.
The alarming data indicates a significant deterioration in the situation. Sea levels have surged by 24cm (9in) (7ft 3in) since 1880, with the rate accelerating from an average of 1.4mm annually in the 20th century to 3.6mm per year by 2015. Previous conservative projections of a 60cm rise by the end of this century now seem overly optimistic, as current emission trends point towards a staggering increase to 2.2 meters by 2100 and a daunting 3.9 meters just half a century later.
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Given that a significant portion of Britain’s population resides along coastal areas vulnerable to storm surges, it is astonishing that mortgage providers and authorities persist in treating coastlines as immutable entities. It may require another catastrophe on par with the devastating east coast floods of 1953 for policymakers to acknowledge reality and recognize that Britain’s shorelines are on the brink of transformation.
2025-01-03 01:00:50
Article from www.theguardian.com