Could Rising Sea Levels Put Kolkata And Mumbai At Risk? UN-Linked Report Warns

Kolkata and Mumbai could experience serious disruption as global sea levels continue to rise, according to a report associated with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The assessment highlights the consequences of global warming, which causes glaciers and ice sheets to lose mass while warmer oceans contribute to higher water levels.

The pace of annual sea-level rise reached a record in 2024, when oceans rose by almost six millimetres, according to the report.

The findings were released at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, where the vulnerability of low-lying island nations remains a major concern.

The report identified several densely populated South Asian cities, including Kolkata, Mumbai and Dhaka, as particularly exposed to permanent coastal inundation.

More than 14 million people in these areas could face the immediate danger of losing their homes as seawater advances into low-lying regions.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Navid Hanif said coastal communities were already losing parts of their shorelines and stressed that governments needed to recognise sea-level rise as a wider systemic challenge.

The UN highlighted the risks associated with the rapid loss of Himalayan glaciers, which experts commonly refer to as the region’s ‘Third Pole’ because of its extensive ice reserves.

Hanif warned that accelerated glacier melting could increase the threat of severe flooding across South Asia during the next 15 to 20 years.

Global Climate Risks

The report estimates that nearly 770 million people worldwide live in coastal areas located less than five metres above the high-tide level, leaving them exposed to significant climate-related risks. It further estimates that infrastructure valued at more than $1.8 trillion could face threats linked to rising sea levels.

Higher oceans are already placing pressure on transport networks, energy systems, buildings, water infrastructure and underground freshwater resources.

The assessment noted that affluent coastal cities such as Miami, New York and Guangzhou face substantial financial exposure, with vulnerable assets estimated at between $2 trillion and $3.5 trillion.

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