More than two-thirds of the world’s large cities, including Mumbai, are in areas that are vulnerable to rising sea level because of global warming. And this puts millions of people at risk of being swamped by flooding and intense storms, according to new study released on 28th march—2007.
In all, 634 million people live in the threatened coastal areas world wide – defined as those lying at less than 33 feet above sea level – and the number is growing, said the study published in the journal Environment and Urbanization.
More than 180 countries have populations in low-elevation coastal zones, and
about 70 percent of those have urban areas of more than 5 million people that are under threat, the report said.
Besides Mumbai, the other major cities at risk include Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, Jakarta, Indonesia and Dhaka.
The study gives no time frame for rising sea levels or the potential flooding in individual countries. It warns, however, the solution to the problem will not be cheap and may involve relocating many people and building protective engineering structures. And, it adds, nations should consider halting or reducing population growth in coastal areas.
Asia is particularly vulnerable, the study said. The five nations with the largest total population living in endangered coastal areas are all in Asia: India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Between 1994 add 2004, about one-third of the world’s 1,562 flood disasters occurred in Asia. Still, Asia accounts nearly half of the total 1,20,000 people killed by the natural calamity, the study said.“Migration away from lower coastal zones will be important, but can be difficult to implement without causing severe disruptions,” the study said. But, it added that “small settlements shifts out of lower coastal plains and onto more elevated ground can make a
In all, 634 million people live in the threatened coastal areas world wide – defined as those lying at less than 33 feet above sea level – and the number is growing, said the study published in the journal Environment and Urbanization.
More than 180 countries have populations in low-elevation coastal zones, and
about 70 percent of those have urban areas of more than 5 million people that are under threat, the report said.Besides Mumbai, the other major cities at risk include Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, Jakarta, Indonesia and Dhaka.
The study gives no time frame for rising sea levels or the potential flooding in individual countries. It warns, however, the solution to the problem will not be cheap and may involve relocating many people and building protective engineering structures. And, it adds, nations should consider halting or reducing population growth in coastal areas.
Asia is particularly vulnerable, the study said. The five nations with the largest total population living in endangered coastal areas are all in Asia: India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Between 1994 add 2004, about one-third of the world’s 1,562 flood disasters occurred in Asia. Still, Asia accounts nearly half of the total 1,20,000 people killed by the natural calamity, the study said.“Migration away from lower coastal zones will be important, but can be difficult to implement without causing severe disruptions,” the study said. But, it added that “small settlements shifts out of lower coastal plains and onto more elevated ground can make a
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