From the 1880s to 2025, sea levels have risen by 8 to 9 inches or 21 to 24 centimeters.  As seen in the graph, 2023 had a record high sea level of 101.4mm compared to the other years. As greenhouse gas emissions increase, sea levels will only continue to rise and set higher records.  

Rising sea levels can lead to worsened effects from storms and natural disasters. Especially floods, where rainfall can create bigger waves of water to push over onto land and becomes amplified with larger heights of water. Floods will become more dangerous and overflow sewage systems quicker. Communities will be more at risk and homes, land, and people will become more vulnerable. More destruction will mean more funding and costs for rebuilding affected communities. Economies, coastal tourism, and agriculture are also impacted heavily from rising sea levels. 

In 2024, the US was hit by Hurricane Helene and its torrential downpour. The 30 inches of rain, alongside the current height of the water in the rivers, led to catastrophic flooding on the East Coast. States like North Caroline had to pay $4.9 billion for rebuild efforts, but its agriculture and farms are still struggling to recover to this day.  Soil necessary for plant growth washed away in the floods, making it much more difficult to care for and sell quality crops. This affects the economy as lower farm returns and longer cycles of farming lead to price inflation for food and other goods.