UN report warns sea level rise accelerating to record 5.9 mm in 2024
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The UN presented a report at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau warning that global sea level is rising faster than ever, reaching a record 5.9 mm in 2024. The report says the rise already floods homes and farmland, threatens water and food supplies, and damages infrastructure. It projects annual global losses could reach $1.4 trillion without adaptation measures.
Key Facts
- Global sea level rose at a record 5.9 mm in 2024, up from an average of 4.7 mm per year between 2014 and 2023.
- About 770 million people, roughly one in ten worldwide, live less than five meters above the high-tide line.
- Even under the most optimistic scenario, sea level is likely to rise by 0.55 meters by 2100; under high-emission scenarios it could approach 2 meters.
- Damage to coastal infrastructure already exceeds $1.8 trillion, and annual global losses could reach $1.4 trillion without adaptation measures.
- Up to 1.2 billion people worldwide could be displaced by 2050 due to sea level rise, according to some projections.
Rising Sea Levels
The UN report, presented at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, states that sea level is now rising faster than at any time in recorded history. Between 2014 and 2023, the global average rise was 4.7 mm per year, and in 2024 it reached a record 5.9 mm. The rise is driven by anthropogenic climate change, primarily through melting glaciers and thermal expansion of the ocean. About 91 percent of the planet's excess heat is absorbed by the ocean, so further warming is tied to rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Human and Economic Impact
Around 770 million people live less than five meters above the high-tide line, making them especially vulnerable to sea level rise. Saltwater intrusion into freshwater wells and farmland threatens access to water and food production. Flooding damages hospitals, schools, and sanitation systems, while waterborne disease risks increase and psychological stress grows. Fisheries and tourism, key economic sectors for many coastal regions, face serious disruptions. Damage to coastal infrastructure already exceeds $1.8 trillion, and without adaptation measures annual global losses could reach $1.4 trillion.
Projections and Displacement
Even under the most optimistic scenario, sea level is likely to rise by 0.55 meters by 2100; under high-emission scenarios it could approach 2 meters. Some projections suggest up to 1.2 billion people worldwide could be displaced by 2050. Current data indicate that risks in some regions may be significantly underestimated, meaning tens of millions more people could be vulnerable than previously thought. Sea level rise also threatens cultural heritage, ancestral lands, and traditional ways of life, with serious psychological consequences.
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UN report warns sea level rise accelerating to record 5.9 mm in 2024