<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/04/climate-driven-sea-level-rise-set-to-flood-major-oil-ports>
"Rising sea levels driven by the climate crisis will overwhelm many of the
world’s biggest oil ports, analysis indicates.
Scientists said the threat was ironic as fossil fuel burning causes global
heating. They said reducing emissions by moving to renewable energy would halt
global heating and deliver more reliable energy.
Thirteen of the ports with the highest supertanker traffic will be seriously
damaged by just 1 metre of sea level rise, the analysis found. The researchers
said two low-lying ports in Saudi Arabia – Ras Tanura and Yanbu – were
particularly vulnerable. Both are operated by Aramco, the Saudi state oil firm,
and 98% of the country’s oil exports leave via these ports.
The oil ports of Houston and Galveston in the US, the world’s biggest oil
producer, are also on the list, as are ports in the United Arab Emirates,
China, Singapore and the Netherlands.
The latest science published by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative
(ICCI) shows 1 metre of sea level rise is now inevitable within a century or so
and could come as early as 2070 if ice sheets collapse and emissions are not
curbed. An even more catastrophic rise of 3 metres is probably inevitable in
the next millennium or two and could arrive as soon as the early 2100s.
Sea level rise is already causing problems around the world even before it
overtops coastline developments. The rise to date means storm surges are higher
and significantly more likely to cause coastal flooding, while infiltration of
saltwater into coastal land can corrode foundations, the researchers note.
Cutting emissions sharply would not only slow the rate of sea level rise but
also limit the ultimate rise.
Pam Pearson, the ICCI director, said: “It’s ironic these oil tanker ports are
below 1 metre of sea level rise and need to have their eyes on these
potentially higher rates of sea level rise, which themselves come from
continued fossil fuel use.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
