May 15, 2022

The cultural threat of China’s rising sea levels

topic:	Climate Change
located:	China, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam
editor:	Stella Chen

With new research showing that in 2021 sea levels around China peaked to their highest on record, scientists question the efficacy of China’s current policies and measures regarding global warming. What’s worth noting is that the sea-level rise in China might also put in danger many cultural heritage sites, as well as the preservation of many neighbouring countries’ environments.

According to the China Sea Level Bulletin 2021, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, China's coastal sea level in 2021 was 8.4 centimetres higher than the average for the period between 1993 and 2001. The report warns that sea-level rise caused by climate change continues to affect coastal development, and urges the authorities to improve monitoring measures and strengthen the early warning and prevention system.

Long-term impacts of sea-level rise include erosion of coastal ecosystems, loss of tidal flats and increased risk of flooding and saltwater intrusion in coastal cities. But what most people and authorities often overlook is the effects of rising sea levels on other aspects of civilization, for example, on coastal cultural heritage. 

According to a report published by Cambridge University, China’s long coastline - the tenth longest in the world - has three major rivers (the Yellow, Yangtze and Pearl), whose rich and diverse environments nourished civilizations and social development. Cultural relics such as cave sites, shell middens, temples and other historic buildings and cities are neglected by researchers and media when talking about the issues that sea-level rise engenders. While the rising sea levels is a long-term issue and it is relieving to see that some cities on China’s eastern coast have begun making contingency plans to cope with it, it is also important to examine the cultural and social effect of the natural catastrophe on cultural heritage.

Additionally, the rising sea level around China also impacts neighbouring countries, such as Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. According to the study from the Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology magazine, the water level in the South China Sea has risen by 152mm since 1900. The neighbouring economies, especially the Southeast Asian economies which rely heavily on agriculture, fisheries and tourism, might face serious challenges from rising sea levels. This has been a blind spot for countries and policymakers since the political focus on the South China Sea has always revolved around territorial conflicts between China and its neighbours.

As the leading polluter in the world that generated around 30 percent of global carbon emissions in 2020, it is time for China to consider the cultural and social impacts of rising sea levels. Following its own critique at COP26 that developed nations failed to provide financial assistance for developing countries, China must also rethink its responsibility in climate action.

Image by Jon Geng

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