Figure 5 projects the sea level rise in Hong Kong by 2050 based on our analysis of sea-level data. The year 2050 is a key point because Hong Kong, like many other countries and regions, has committed to achieving net zero by that year.

A rising sea level will cause severe economic and property losses, increase the probability of coastal flooding, and affect nearby residents. For example, Shen et al. (2022) estimate that a rise in sea level would affect approximately 8,500 square meters of land near Victoria Harbor under RCP4.5 by 2060. Combined with the projections in Figure 5, western and north-western regions such as Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, Tung Chung, and Tai O would be at particularly high coastal inundation risk (as flagged in Figure 5).