KUNA SETTLEMENT

Freshwater from Greenland’s melting ice is slowly mixing with the salty ocean, threatening the world’s low-lying lands. Sea levels are rising. Thermal expansion alone caused the oceans to rise by 20 centimeters during the 20th century. Everything is shifting.
Coral reefs, for example, are extremely sensitive to even the slightest change in water temperature—30% have already vanished. They are a vital link in the endless chain of life.
In the atmosphere, powerful winds are changing course. Rainfall patterns are being disrupted. Climate zones are shifting. The people of low-lying islands are the first to be affected. Their anxiety is growing—some are already searching for new land to call home.
What will the world’s megacities do if sea levels keep rising? Tokyo—the most populous city on Earth—stands directly in the path of this change. Year after year, scientists issue increasingly dire warnings. Coastal plains are home to more than 70% of the world’s population. Eleven of the fifteen largest cities on the planet sit on coasts or river estuaries.
As the seas rise, saltwater will seep into underground reservoirs, cutting off access to drinking water. Mass migrations will be inevitable. The only uncertainty is how far-reaching they will be.

Excerpt from the film A Thirsty World
by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Baptiste Rouget-Luchaire, and Thierry Piantanida
© 2012 Hope Production