Barring large amounts of spending on shoreline barriers and flood control systems, these images show what China would face if carbon emissions cause global temperatures to rise by 2° Celsius (3.6°F), the current international target by 2100, or by 4° Celsius (7.2°F), roughly the warming predicted if no action is taken to curb emissions.

Shanghai

China's largest city, with a population of around 24 million at the edge of the East China Sea, has the most to lose from rising sea levels. Climate Central estimates that 76 percent of the Shanghai region's current population lives in areas that would eventually be underwater if the Earth warms by 4°C by 2100.

Current sea level Yangtze River Shanghai 5 MILES Sea level after warming of 2°C Yangtze River Shanghai 5 MILES Sea level after warming of 4°C Yangtze River Shanghai 5 MILES

Current sea levels Sea level after

warming of

2°C Sea level after

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4°C Yangtze River Taicang Yangcheng Lake East China Sea Kunshan Shanghai Dianshan Lake Songjiang 5 MILES

Tianjin

Tianjin has a lower elevation than its larger neighbor Beijing, and the city proper is home to about 11 million people. The rising waters created by a 4°C temperature increase would submerge about 29 percent of the area’s current population.

Current sea level 5 MILES Tianjin Sea level after warming of 2°C 5 MILES Tianjin Sea level after warming of 4°C 5 MILES Tianjin

Current sea levels Sea level after

warming of

2°C Sea level after

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4°C About 30 miles to Beijing Wuqing Yingchengzhen Tianjin Shengfangzhen Bohai Bay Binhai Jinghai 5 MILES

Shantou

The large southern port city of Shantou sits on a river delta surrounded by mountains, making it vulnerable to the encroaching ocean. Fifty-four percent of the current population lives below where sea level would end up following a 4°C warming scenario, in contrast to 22 percent for a 2°C increase.

Current sea level Shantou South China Sea 5 MILES Sea level after warming of 2°C Shantou South China Sea 5 MILES Sea level after warming of 4°C Shantou South China Sea 5 MILES