The world is becoming increasingly vulnerable to coastal flooding. Rising sea levels could affect three times more people by 2050 than previously thought, according to new research by Climate Central. This research shows that some 150 million people are now living on land that will be below the high-tide line by midcentury. These are the cities which might be underwater by 2050.
Mumbai
The new projections suggest that much of Mumbai, India's financial capital, is at risk of being wiped out. Built on what was once a series of islands, the city's historic downtown is particularly vulnerable.
Kolkata
Kolkata is home to 15 million people and that number is growing. The city already faces flooding induced by heavy rain and other natural events; by midcentury, much of Kolkata could lie in the coastal flood risk zone.
Shanghai, China
In Shanghai, one of Asia's most important economic zones, water threatens to consume the heart of the city and many other cities around it. In 2012, a team of UK and Dutch scientists declared Shanghai to be the most vulnerable major city in the world, to serious flooding. This was based on factors such as number of people living close to the coastline, time needed to recover from flooding, and measures to prevent floodwater. According to Climate Central projections, 17.5 million people could be displaced by rising waters if global temperatures increase by 3 degrees centigrade.
Thailand, Bangkok
In Thailand, more than 10 per cent of citizens now live on land that is likely to be inundated by 2050, compared with just 1 percent according to earlier findings. The political and commercial capital, Bangkok, is particularly at risk.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka is Bangladesh's capital and largest city. It is already home to a growing number of internal migrants who have left coastal settlements behind but Dhaka is itself projected to see significant flood risks in the coming decades.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Much of Ho Chi Minh City, the nation's economic centre, would disappear along with almost one-quarter of the population according to the Climate Central research.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta has been facing the challenge of rising sea-levels, which threatens to submerge entire swathes of the city by 2050. Its land is sinking up to 6.7 inches per year due to excessive groundwater pumping. In recent years, floods have devastated homes, vehicles, and local businesses, particularly Jakarta's poorer neighbourhoods.