China’s ‘sinking’ coastal cities at risk of floods as sea levels rise: study
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A new study warns that a quarter of China’s coastal land will sink below sea level within a century, putting hundreds of millions of people at risk of being flooded. Groundwater changes and building weight are linked to the phenomenon, and long-term control of groundwater extraction is key to addressing the issue. Around one-third of China’s population in 82 studied cities live in regions subsiding faster than 3mm a year, while 7% live in areas subsiding faster than 10mm a year. Subsidence causes ground fissures, damages buildings, and increases the risk of floods. Collaborations between policymakers, the research community, and civil engineers are needed to effectively address the issue. The study analyzed 82 major cities with populations of over 2 million people and found that 270 million Chinese people now live on sinking land, and 67 million people live in regions with rapidly sinking land. Hotspots for the issue include Tianjin and Beijing. Additionally, 22 to 26% of China’s coastal land is projected to fall below sea level by 2120 due to subsidence and rising seas, posing a serious threat to coastal populations.
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