Long-term sea level rise set in motion by near-term carbon emissions threatens major coastal cities across the world.
Here we present paired images showing how iconic locations — in London, Shanghai, Mumbai, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Durban and New York — could fare under the scenarios of business as usual vs. a sharp transition to clean energy.
The study was published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralShanghai, China.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/37/1061683787_0:0:1000:597_600x0_80_0_1_67f48075e92a3dba8d1e32913241d31f.jpg)
Shanghai, China.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralMumbai, India
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/38/1061683815_0:0:1000:663_600x0_80_0_1_c27d722e56314554f6a65c47111be728.jpg)
Mumbai, India
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralRio de Janeiro, Brazil.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/38/1061683842_0:0:1000:671_600x0_80_0_1_5351d21ee1c5f6ec9dd9622447a48d1e.jpg)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralLondon.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/38/1061683870_0:0:1000:667_600x0_80_0_1_a2d3058a8a4bff8a68a377ccc17d3bb0.jpg)
London.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralMiami Beach, USA.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/38/1061683897_0:0:1000:668_600x0_80_0_1_8728f8cf3867e0d6343c40740277fec1.jpg)
Miami Beach, USA.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralSilicon Valley, USA
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/39/1061683924_0:0:1000:664_600x0_80_0_1_2e8235ebef5a6d59b9aeab2ba31be9c7.jpg)
Silicon Valley, USA
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralSydney.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/39/1061683951_0:0:1000:667_600x0_80_0_1_60efd03a5e4391fba2ff068016c787bf.jpg)
Sydney.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralNew York.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/39/1061683978_0:0:1000:668_600x0_80_0_1_d18d7c22f3ee3df6b758f9bc5ef4d39f.jpg)
New York.
© Photo : Sea Level Rise/Climate CentralDurban, South Africa.
![Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities Water World: Imagining Drowned Cities - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106168/40/1061684006_0:0:1000:750_600x0_80_0_1_a90823a2bf6942b43f25939ffcaf0538.jpg)
Durban, South Africa.