Accelerating Sea Level Rise Puts Coastal Cities and Future Generations at Risk

From Stability to Surge: A Look at the Last 30 Years

For nearly 2,000 years, global sea levels remained relatively stable. That changed dramatically in the 20th century—and the rise hasn’t slowed down since. Since 1993, satellite data has revealed a clear and concerning trend: sea levels have risen about 4 inches globally, and the rate of rise is speeding up.

NASA’s latest satellite data shows that 2023 saw an unexpectedly sharp increase. While year-to-year fluctuations are common, the long-term trend is unmistakable—and deeply worrying.