ASIA PACIFIC / Society

China’s cities are sinking below sea level, study finds

The combination of subsidence and rising sea levels is set to be a defining problem for Chinese cities; last year thousands of residents were evacuated from apartments in Tianjin after nearby streets split apart. | Gilles Sabrie /The New York Times

By Delger Erdenesanaa
The New York Times

Apr 19, 2024

As China’s cities grow, they are also sinking.

An estimated 16% of the country’s major cities are losing more than 10 millimeters (about 0.4 inches) of elevation per year and nearly half are losing more than 3 millimeters per year, according to a new study published in the journal Science.

These amounts may seem small, but they accumulate quickly. In 100 years, one-fourth of China’s urban coastal land could sit below sea level because of a combination of subsidence and sea level rise, according to the study.

China’s cities are sinking below sea level, study finds

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