How Climate Change Is Driving a New Age of Inland Migration

World leaders and scientists have rallied to maintain the 1.5°C global warming target. Yet, even with this goal, sea levels are rising at a rate faster than we can handle. With the current 1.2°C of warming, the ocean levels are increasing by 1 cm annually, which is a rate that outpaces most nations' ability to build coastal defences. 

The cause of these alarming water levels is the accelerated loss of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which are melting at four times the rate observed in the 1990s. If global temperatures reach the range of 2.5°C to 2.9°C, it could trigger the tipping point of a 12-meter rise in sea levels. The result would be a transformation of coastlines on an unprecedented scale. 

Beyond environmental damage, the human cost is staggering. More than 230 million people live within one meter of today’s ocean level, along with more than a billion living within 10 meters. Even a modest 20cm rise by 2050 at our current warming rate could result in more than $1 trillion in annual flood damages to the world’s largest coastal cities. There would also be massive displacement of countless communities and livelihoods. 

However, even with an unrealistic curb of emissions, the damage has been done, and the ice sheets are already in motion. A reversal of global temperatures would also fail to prevent the centuries it would take to recover from flooding ocean levels. Any land lost to rising seas will also be flooded and unrecoverable for generations. 

With all the immense challenges, there are options. Borrum Energy Solutions offers microgeneration wind turbines and towers that are designed for off-grid living, including cottages, tiny houses, and rural properties. The wind turbines provide reliable and renewable energy, which reduces the dependence on the electrical grid’s vulnerable infrastructure or diesel and propane generators. With the integration of wind energy into communities, we address energy needs and empower localized individuals to adapt to the changing climate along with building a sustainable future.