A Flooded World

The briefing highlights research indicating that global sea levels could rise by several meters within 50 to 150 years if emissions grow, potentially submerging major global cities and displacing 20% of the world's population. It emphasizes that these impacts could occur even if the 2 degree C target is met. For Canada, the document details 2010 emission sources and advocates for a societal transformation, specifically noting that closing coal-fired power plants in Ontario and Alberta provides a rapid pathway for emission reductions and health benefits.

• Research suggests that global sea levels may rise by several meters over the next 50 to 150 years if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, a scenario that could occur even if the United Nations Framework on Climate Change's 2 degree C temperature limit is maintained.
• Rising oceans could force 20% of the global population to migrate from coastal areas, leading to the submergence of major cities including New York, London, Rio de Janeiro, Cairo, Calcutta, Jakarta, and Shanghai.
• To limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, the IPCC states that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 70% to 95% by 2050 compared to 2010 levels.
• In 2010, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions were 707 megatonnes, with the largest contributions coming from the transportation sector (24%), the oil and gas industry (23%), and the electricity sector (14%).
• The electricity sector is identified as a source for rapid emission reductions in Canada; Ontario reduced emissions by nearly 20% since 2005 by closing six coal-fired power plants, and Alberta's plan to accelerate coal plant closures could reduce Canada's total emissions by 6% and provide $300 million in annual health benefits.

APA

Perrotta, K. (2016). A Flooded World. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/time-for-action-a-flooded-world/

Chicago

Perrotta, Kim. A Flooded World. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2016. https://cape.ca/time-for-action-a-flooded-world/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Perrotta |first1=Kim |title=A Flooded World |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=29 March 2016 |url=https://cape.ca/time-for-action-a-flooded-world/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{perrotta2016flooded, author = {Perrotta, Kim}, title = {{A Flooded World}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://cape.ca/time-for-action-a-flooded-world/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }