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.

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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.