Climate change leads to melting ice, rising sea and temperature levels, and longer dry seasons. Stunning destinations around the world are at risk of major harm from climate change.
Since the mid-20th century, global carbon dioxide emissions, temperatures and sea levels have been rising, while Arctic ice sheets have been melting. Climate change and global warming have already greatly affected the planet, leading to shrinking glaciers, decreased biodiversity and more frequent wildfires. Unless major action is taken, climate change will continue to worsen, and sites around the world will be at risk of changing or even disappearing. These eight popular destinations are all predicted to be negatively impacted by climate change, from Venice, Italy, at risk of sinking beneath rising sea levels, to the Amazon rainforest, which had over 74,000 fires in 2019.
1. Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland
On Greenland’s west coast, north of the Arctic Circle, lies one of the country’s most stunning natural wonders, the Illulissat Icefjord. The icefjord, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, is a sprawling collection of icebergs that have been calved from the Sermeq Kujalleq Glacier. Some icebergs are the size of city blocks or small towns. Greenland’s travel website recommends that visitors to the icefjord take a helicopter or plane to see its true scale, then sail around the icefjord or even hike on the icebergs.
In 2019, the Greenland ice sheet—a mass of glacial land ice extending more than 20,000 square miles—lost a record amount of ice, approximately 1.1 million tons per minute. The amount of Arctic sea ice recorded annually has been decreasing since 1979, and the melting ice is a tangible effect of climate change and global warming. Not only does this increase in melting ice pose a threat to the Ilulissat Icefjord, which is slowly disappearing, it directly contributes to rising sea levels.
2. Statue of Liberty, New York
Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty is one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks. The statue, dedicated in 1886, was a gift of friendship from France to the United States. In the years that followed, the statue became a beacon for immigrants to the United States, many of whom arrived through New York’s nearby Ellis Island. Liberty Island was designated a national monument in 1924, and today it receives around 4 million visitors each year. Visitors can learn more about the statue’s history at the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island and can climb all the way to the statue’s crown for a view of the city’s skyline.
Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island required a combined $77 million in repairs. At the time, Sandy was deemed a 700-year storm for the belief that a storm of such magnitude, with Sandy’s unusual path, would only occur once every 700 years. There is evidence that Sandy gained strength from unusually warm ocean temperatures as it moved through the North Atlantic, and these high temperatures are expected to continue because of global warming. Though a storm precisely like Sandy may not happen for another 700 years, large storm surges are increasing in frequency and intensity, and scientists are worried about these surges hitting the Statue of Liberty. Even without another blow from a storm surge, the Statue of Liberty is under threat from climate change. Due to Liberty Island’s low elevation, it is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels.
3. The Rhone Valley, France
The Rhone Valley in the south of France has been a center of wine culture since ancient times. Wine production began in the region with the arrival of the Greeks in the fourth century B.C., and the industry really began to flourish under the Romans, who used the Rhone River as their highway through France and established vineyards along the banks. Today, the valley is France’s second-largest wine-growing region and a major destination. Visitors can follow the region's 14 wine routes through historic villages and vineyards to explore the gorgeous countryside and try some of the valley’s famous wines.
Experts suggest that France’s wine hub will have to move north, away from the Rhone Valley, as global temperatures rise. These higher temperatures mean that the region could become inhospitable to vineyards and that grape production may decrease by up to 85%. Some vineyards have already begun to experience over-ripening as a result of higher temperatures, and scientists predict that temperatures will continue to increase steadily. A study by Conservation International predicts that in the next 50 years, global temperatures will increase by at least 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city, sits on the Gulf of Guinea and the Lagos Lagoon. Lagos has recently made headlines as a must-see travel destination. The city is a large creative center, home to a number of art galleries like the Bogobiri House. Lagos also hosts October Fashion Week and ART X Lagos, West Africa’s international art fair, and has a number of nearby beaches.
During the annual rainy season, Lagos experiences major flooding. Though climate change is actually expected to decrease the overall rainfall in Lagos, the intensity of the rainfall will likely increase, meaning that each rainfall will bring a greater risk of flooding. Due to the city’s low elevation, it is also vulnerable to flooding from rising sea levels. Scientists estimate that Lagos will experience nearly a 3-foot rise in sea levels by 2100.
5. Venice, Italy
In the Veneto region of northern Italy, on an enclosed lagoon off the Adriatic Sea, is Venice, one of Italy’s most popular destinations. The city, which has been well known in Europe since the year 1000 A.D., is built on the Venetian Lagoon, and a series of canals flow through the city. Venice is home to major attractions, like St. Mark’s Square and Basilica and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The entire city is connected by bridges, so visitors can walk through it, or they can float on the canals in a gondola or a vaporetto.
While its winding canals make Venice a top destination, they also make it one of the locations most talked about in conjunction with climate change. Because of its proximity to the water, flooding has been an issue in Venice since the fifth century. In recent years, though, due to rising sea levels caused by climate change, Venice’s floods have been causing more damage. The number of high tides above 110 centimeters has doubled each decade since 1966. Venice’s famous piazzas and historic architecture are at risk of permanent water damage from the flooding, and studies suggest that the city could be underwater as soon as 2100. The city has been working to build three retractable floodgates since 2003, which would allow some control over water levels, but a UNESCO report asserts that when completed the floodgates will have to be used frequently and will eventually be overwhelmed.
6. Glacier National Park, Montana
Spanning over 1,500 square miles in northern Montana, up against the U.S.-Canada border, is Glacier National Park. The park boasts forests, alpine meadows, sparkling lakes and picturesque mountains, as well as 26 glaciers and 14 rock glaciers, glacier-like landforms made from angular rocks. Visitors to the park can explore over 700 miles of hiking trails, take guided tours of the glaciers, bicycle, fish and sail. One of the park’s most popular attractions is Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile road that spans the entirety of the park and takes visitors through different terrains, with plenty of opportunities to stop at scenic viewpoints.
The number of glaciers in the park has shrunk by almost three-quarters since 1850, from 80 to today’s 26. Some of the 26 glaciers remaining may actually be too small to be considered glaciers, melting to cover less than 25 acres. In the past, glaciers naturally cycled through periods of advance and retreat, growing and shrinking, but the rapid retreat seen in recent decades is mainly due to global warming.
7. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Off the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, lies the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the only living thing on Earth visible from space and is larger than the Great Wall of China. The reef is made up of over 3,000 individual reef systems and hundreds of incredible tropical islands. Visitors can scuba dive at the reef to see the diverse plant and animal life, take a seaplane to observe the true scale of the reef from above, and skydive over the reef and rainforest, along with relaxing on nearby beaches.
Rising ocean temperatures linked to global warming have caused massive instances of coral bleaching, a phenomenon where coral turns white and dies, in the reef. A 2020 aerial survey conducted by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation revealed that the reef had faced its most widespread bleaching yet, with 60% of reefs having experienced at least some bleaching. When coral bleaching occurs and coral dies, an essential habitat for marine life disappears; rising ocean temperatures are leading to a decrease in biodiversity throughout the reef.
8. Amazon Rainforest, South America
The world’s largest rainforest spans over 2 million square miles across South America, reaching into Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. The Amazon is home to 10% of the world’s known species, including over 40,000 plant species, 1,500 bird species and over 400 animal species. Visitors to the Amazon can go on jungle hikes and river cruises to take in the region’s vibrant flora and fauna, like giant water lilies, monkey bush vines, capybaras, spider monkeys, boa constrictors, and thousands more.
Scientific models suggest that by 2050, decreased rainfall in the Amazon will lead to widespread drying, and temperatures will have increased by 4-5 degrees Fahrenheit. These factors could lead to longer and more severe droughts. In 2019, data reported over 74,000 fires in the Amazon, an 85% increase from 2018. Though experts say that the fires themselves must have been started either accidentally or intentionally by humans, the dry conditions in the region allowed the fires to become widespread. As temperatures and droughts continue to increase, the Amazon will become more vulnerable to fires, which take a big toll on the forest’s biodiversity.
For more information about climate change and its potential solutions, visit NASA’s website here.
Rachel Lynch
Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.