Deep emission cuts before mid-century decisive to reduce long-term sea-level rise legacy

23 October 2025

Rising seas are irreversible on human time scales and among the most severe consequences of climate change.

Emissions released in the coming decades will determine how much coastlines are reshaped for centuries to come. New research shows that near-term mitigation could spare future generations around 0.6 meters of sea-level rise that would be caused by emissions between 2020 and 2090 following current policies, making today’s decisions critical not only for limiting warming but also for coastal impacts.