The cities at risk of being underwater: in the UK and beyond

Are these the cities of the future?

Sea levels around the world are rising as a result of the climate crisis and even if we manage to keep global warming below 1.5°C (2.7°F), as set out in the Paris Agreement, they are set to rise by at least 10 feet (3m), according to research by non-profit Climate Central. However, if the planet's temperature increases by 3°C (5.4°F), which it’s projected to do by 2100 if we continue as we’re going at the moment, sea levels could rise by 30 feet (9m).

Click or scroll through to see Climate Central's illustration of what the world’s cities could look like in this scenario using photorealistic images.

Buckingham Palace, London, England, UK

The British royals’ official residence since 1837, Buckingham Palace in London, England would fare badly in the event of 3°C (5.4°F) of warming, due in part to its proximity to the River Thames. Its surrounding grounds would be submerged in water, as would the lower levels of the palace itself, according to imaging from Climate Central.

The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia (near Washington DC), USA

The Pentagon was built during the Second World War and is currently the headquarters of the US Department of Defense – the army, navy and Air Force. But in the event of a 3°C (5.4°F) temperature rise, there won’t be much left of its surroundings.

Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp’s position on the banks of the River Scheldt makes it especially vulnerable to sea level rise. Shown here, the 16th-century Cathedral of our Lady and the historic city centre could become badly flooded if climate change continues at its current rate.

Brighton Pavilion, Brighton, England, UK

The 19th-century Royal Pavilion that graces the seaside city of Brighton is one of Britain’s finest examples of Victorian architecture. But its luxurious grounds, along with lower levels of the building, are set to be engulfed in seawater if drastic action to curb emissions is not taken.

Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most low-lying, flood-prone nations in the world and its seasonal flooding is already being worsened by the climate crisis. In fact, during the 2020 monsoon season, an enormous one-quarter of the country was underwater. Pictured here, Lalbagh Fort in the capital city, Dhaka, would be half-submerged by seawater if we stay on our current path of climate change.

Aristotelous Square, Thessaloniki, Greece

With its Neoclassical buildings and landscaped gardens, Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki is one of the most-visited locations in Greece. But the square’s immaculate green spaces and covered walkways would be submerged in the event of 3°C (5.4°F) of warming.

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Its location on the banks of the Patapsco River makes Baltimore, Maryland vulnerable to rising sea levels, as you can see from this image of the Convention Center. The grass-covered stadium would be filled with water, along with swathes of downtown.

Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong

According to risk maps released by Climate Central, large parts of Hong Kong would be underwater in future if global warming continues unchecked at the current rate. This includes the lower parts of the 70-story Bank of China Tower, plus surrounding low-rises, roads, parks and green spaces.

Bridge Street, Cambridge, England, UK

Thanks to its proximity to the River Cam, the historic city of Cambridge in southeastern England faces catastrophic destruction at the hands of climate change. In fact, even in the event of just 1.5°C (2.7°F) of warming (the minimum that will occur no matter what actions humanity takes to stop it), a significant chunk of England’s east coast would be gobbled up by the sea.

Liking this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Maranhao's House, São Luís, Brazil

Located on the western coast of São Luís Island, a narrow peninsula which is cut off from the Brazilian mainland by the Mosquito Strait, São Luís city is set to become covered in water as a result of a 3°C (5.4°F) global temperature rise.

Downtown San Francisco, California, USA

Significant chunks of the Windy City, which sits on a peninsula jutting out into the North Pacific Ocean, would be underwater in the event of unchecked global warming. In this photo modelling of what San Francisco's downtown would look like, smaller skyscrapers and buildings are almost swallowed up by the sea.

Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos, Nigeria

Situated on Nigeria’s west coast bordering Lagos Lagoon, the coastal capital is headed for severe damage in the event of 3°C (5.4°F) of climate change. The streets outside Lagos Central Mosque, pictured, are usually filled with people, but this apocalyptic vision of the future will see them completely submerged in water instead.

Place Royale, Québec City, Québec, Canada

Québec City is located on the banks of the St Lawrence River, which winds its way out to meet the North Atlantic Ocean and Labrador Sea. Due to its low-lying location, many areas of the city including the historic Place Royale – a cobbled square dating to the 17th century – would be destroyed by sea level rise.

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Wales, UK

Huge areas of Cardiff, which faces onto the Bristol Channel, would be underwater in the event of unchecked global warming – as you can see from this shocking image of the Wales Millennium Centre. In fact, if you look closely in the left-hand corner, only the rooftops of some houses are visible above the water.

Plaza de la Catedral, Havana, Cuba

This especially shocking image shows the outdoor chairs and tables of Plaza de la Catedral – usually bustling with people – completely underwater. Large swathes of the Cuban capital are set to be devastated by unchecked rising ocean levels.

City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

The coastal city of Cape Town will be all but completely flooded if climate change causes a 3°C (5.4°F) rise in temperature, with roads, train tracks and the lower storeys of buildings all set to be inundated with water.

Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is sliced apart by the River Liffey, which empties out into Dublin Bay. But large areas of this historic coastal city are set to be wiped out by rising sea levels, as you can see from this image, depicting flooded roads and castle grounds.

Grev Wedels Plass, Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital is known for its tranquil location on the banks of the Oslofjord, providing stunning scenery year-round. Yet 3°C (5.4°F) of warming is set to bring chaos to the city, as this shocking image of a flooded Grev Wedels Plass (a square near the water's edge) shows.

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver, Canada

Swathes of the coastal city of Vancouver will be plunged underwater due to global warming, with suburbs including Richmond, Ladner and Surrey set to be badly hit. The H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, pictured, will be all but lost as water sweeps in from English Bay in the west.

Cathédrale Sainte Reparate, Nice, France

A long-time favourite with well-heeled travellers, the glamorous beach city of Nice is set to be devastated by sea level rise, with historic buildings such as the Cathédrale Sainte Reparate (pictured) looking likely to flood.

Elizabeth Quay, Perth, Australia

If we continue on our current carbon path, there won’t be much left of Elizabeth Quay in Perth, Australia. In fact pretty much the entire harbour is set to be underwater – you can just make out the rooftops poking out in the foreground of this image.

Piazza Dei Martiri, Naples, Italy

Also known as Martyr’s Square, the historic Piazza dei Martiri in Naples looks like it might just about remain unscathed even if warming hits 3°C (5.4°F), but nearby streets and coastal areas are set to be flooded.

Rosemary Square, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

More than 3,600 square miles (9,324sq km) of Florida are within the 100-year coastal floodplain, making it the most at-risk US state when it comes to coastal flooding. The south is set to be worst affected, with cities including West Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Miami under threat if global warming continues at the current rate.

Space Center Houston, Texas, USA

Swathes of Texas’ 3,359-mile (5,406km) coastline would be ravaged by 3°C (5.4°F) of warming, and large parts will be flooded even if warming is curtailed to 1.5°C (2.7°F). The Space Center Houston looks a sorry state in this image.

Floralis Genérica, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Floralis Genérica is a large silver flower sculpture created by Argentinian architect Eduardo Catalano, located in the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas in Buenos Aires. Although the sculpture itself will be safe in the event of a 3°C (5.4°F) temperature rise, surrounding parks, roads and other low-lying areas look severely threatened.

Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam

Around one-fifth of Vietnam’s population lives along the Mekong Delta, making them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change-induced sea level rise. According to maps created by Climate Central, almost all of Hanoi will be devastated if temperature increases by 3°C (5.4°F), while even a 1.5°C (2.7°F) rise will badly impact huge areas of coastline.

Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

Sitting on the banks of the Hudson River, Hoboken, New Jersey will suffer severely when sea levels rise, as you can see from this image of a drowned-out Washington Street. In fact, even if climate change is curbed at 1.5°C (2.7°F), mapping tools suggest large areas of the New Jersey coastline will be underwater.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

A world-famous landmark along Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House looks a sorry state with the lower levels of the building subsumed underwater in this image. But that’s exactly what will happen if climate change continues along its current trajectory.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at more than 2,716.5-feet (828m) high, but its mighty size won’t stop it being ravaged by climate change. As well as consuming the lower storeys of the skyscraper, surrounding roads, green spaces and low-rise buildings would be swallowed up by rising water.

Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York City, New York, USA

Built to commemorate America's centennial anniversary of independence, the Statue of Liberty has stood over New York Bay for more than 130 years. As you can see here, however, its star-shaped base and the island on which it stands would be mostly submerged due to the climate crisis.

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Now read on for more shocking images that show the true impact of climate change today