According to Climate.gov, global sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimeters) since 1880 and, in 2020, set a new record high—91.3 mm (3.6 inches) above 1993 levels.
Now, let’s get back to our scenario game. However, this time, instead of imagining yourself as a fish, we will go for something more familiar: try putting yourself in the shoes of those who live near the sea. Growing up in the coastal area, you have always enjoyed the breezing winds of the sea, the peaceful scene of seagulls flying above your head and the laughter of kids around your neighborhood. Everything just goes by so tranquil like that until one day, you come back from school and almost can't recognize your own home. Water, water and more water, everything in front of you is flooded with water as houses are damaged, people are missing, mothers are crying for help and dads are looking for their kids in despair. Just like that, every single thing that made up the childhood of your life was gone within a blink. From your favorite books, your own shelter to the people whom you love so dearly, are now all gone.
And somewhere in the North Pole, polar bears are also suffering the same loss as the rise in temperature has caused their homes, glaciers and icebergs, to melt away. So what exactly is happening here, you might ask. Well, all the devastating effects listed above are the direct result of sea level rise. Due to climate change, our weather is now becoming warmer and warmer, which leads to melting icebergs and expanding seawater. According to Climate.gov, global sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimeters) since 1880 and, in 2020, set a new record high—91.3 mm (3.6 inches) above 1993 levels. Every year from 2006-2015, global mean water level in the ocean rose by 0.14 inches (3.6 millimeters), which was 2.5 times the average rate of 0.06 inches (1.4 millimeters) per year in the twentieth century. By the end of the century, global mean sea level is likely to rise at least one foot (0.3 meters) above 2000 levels, even if greenhouse gas emissions follow a relatively low pathway in coming decades.