Sea level rise, an increasingly pressing consequence of climate change, poses a significant threat to coastal regions worldwide.

Taiwan, nestled amidst the ocean, finds itself particularly vulnerable due to its geographical location and oceanic currents, exacerbating the risks and pace of sea level rise.

To grasp the gravity of this impending catastrophe and unite in averting its dire consequences, we've distilled seven key points highlighting the multifaceted challenges stemming from the climate crisis.

Picture this: 57 meters. That's the staggering height sea levels could soar to upon the melting of the Antarctic ice sheet.

While such a scenario may seem distant, a sobering 2021 study warns that continued global warming will accelerate sea level rise, leaving us powerless to halt its relentless advance.

Sea level observations, spanning back to 1850, reveal an alarming trend: an average global sea level rise of at least 20 centimeters, with the rate of increase skyrocketing since 2000.

This surge is primarily attributed to global warming fueled by the combustion of fossil fuels like coal and oil, which spew forth copious amounts of greenhouse gases. The repercussions of further sea level rise are dire, imperiling the safety of coastal residents and jeopardizing our very livelihoods.

Initial assessments in 2017 projected a global sea level rise of 1.5 to 2.5 meters by the century's turn, surpassing earlier estimations. However, the grim reality unveiled in 2021 suggests that 2.5 meters was, in fact, a more optimistic forecast.

Looking ahead, projections indicate a 60-centimeter rise by 2040 and a staggering 90-centimeter surge by 2050. Nations with expansive river basins, such as India and Egypt, stand to bear the brunt, with tens of millions facing displacement due to the encroaching seas. Such inundation could precipitate a wave of climate refugees and the loss of vast swathes of arable land.

Consider Venice, Italy—a city imperiled by even a 1-meter rise in sea level. Studies portend a grim reality: a 2-meter rise could render hundreds of millions globally homeless, while a 2.5-meter surge would submerge countless coastal metropolises, ushering in catastrophic consequences.

In the Indian Ocean, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Maldives—small island nations in the South Pacific—have already fallen victim to the sea's relentless advance. Displaced individuals, both domestically and internationally, find themselves bereft of shelter, forced to seek refuge elsewhere.

The impact of sea level rise is not uniform across regions, with disparities arising from varying oceanic currents and water dispersal patterns. Some areas face sea level rise rates 20% to 70% higher than the global average.

Notably, the eastern seaboard of the United States and major Asian cities confront heightened vulnerability. Should sea levels continue their ascent, coastal megacities may confront the grim ultimatum of evacuation or relocation.

What drives this alarming trend? Approximately 30% of sea level rise stems from thermal expansion, whereby warmer seawater expands in volume—an effect exacerbated by rising temperatures. The remainder is attributed to the ongoing melting of polar ice caps.

Over the past four decades, global sea levels have surged at an average rate of 3 millimeters annually. Alarmingly, this rate has escalated to 1 centimeter per year over the last nine years. Projections suggest that by 2100, sea levels could surge by nearly 95 centimeters—a scenario fraught with peril.

U.S. scientists, analyzing ice cap melting in Greenland and Antarctica, foresee a grim future: should sea levels continue to rise unabated, Shanghai, China, could find itself submerged by the 2050s, with New York City following suit by the 2090s—a fate sealed by the relentless advance of the seas.