Some of the world's most famous attractions - such as the Statue of Liberty, the Tower of London and Sydney Opera House - may end up submerged because of rising sea levels, which is a reflection of global warming. This statement comes from a study that has just been published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

Researchers point out that with the 3 ° C rise - which is what the United Nations estimates should happen by the end of the century - in global climate conditions about 20% of the world's 720 heritage sites will be affected by melting glaciers and of the expansion of the oceans.

To exemplify the scale of the problem, the scientists decided to analyze how the attractions selected by UNESCO would be threatened after two thousand years. Although the period is quite wide, experts believe that the first impacts will definitely be felt first because of flooding action.

Map released in the study shows the locations that will be reached with rising sea levels. Image Source: Reproduction / Environmental Research Letters

“We can say with some confidence that we can see the first impacts on these places as early as the 21st century. Normally, when people talk about climate change, it's about the economic and environmental consequences, how much it would cost. We wanted to look at the cultural implications, ”explains Professor Ben Marzeion of the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Because there are so many attractions scattered on the coasts of nations, researchers warn that these would be the first places to hit. According to the researchers, Naples (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia) and Bruges (Belgium) are some examples of vulnerable cities. Still, Southeast Asia is likely to have the largest number of people affected by rising sea levels, largely because it has densely populated cities and rising waters will be most significant in this region.

Project by artist Chris Bodle seeks to show where sea level can reach in a few years. Image Source: Playback / Gizmodo

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported in September that it expects sea levels to rise by 26 to 82 centimeters by 2100, although there is no consensus among experts on this issue. According to The Guardian, the only thing scientists agree is that the IPCC may be underestimating the problem, as a recent study suggests that global sea elevation will be 0.7 to 1.2 meters by 2100 and from 2 to 3 meters up to 2300.

Marzeion believes the cultural impact brings a new dimension to the discussion, but the professor does not expect his research to convince those who do not believe in the consequences of global warming. “I am not very optimistic that culture will increase interest in the subject. It's hard to convince people that this is a problem. It seems that there is a big divide between people who feel this is a problem and those who do not believe it, ”concludes the researcher.