Mumbai heading underwater? UN flags city at risk of permanent inundation

A recent United Nations report has highlighted the growing threat of permanent inundation to cities in South Asia due to rising sea levels. Mumbai, Kolkata, and Dhaka are identified as particularly vulnerable, with over 14 million people at immediate risk of losing their homes. Global sea levels rose at a record rate of 5.9 millimeters in 2024, compared to an average annual rise of 4.7 millimeters from 2014 to 2023.

Projections indicate a minimum of 0.5 meters of global sea level rise by 2100, even with aggressive emissions reductions, though this could reach up to two meters in worst-case scenarios involving the instability of the West Antarctic ice sheet. For Mumbai, rising sea levels are exacerbated by land subsidence and saltwater intrusion, which can contaminate freshwater resources and damage infrastructure.

The city's geography, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides, further increases its vulnerability. Climate experts note that warming waters in the Arabian Sea are contributing to more intense rainfall and heat events. The report emphasizes the urgent need for climate-risk assessments to address not only financial and infrastructure losses but also the human displacement and social impacts resulting from these changes.