Sea levels along French coasts rising at rapid pace: report

Sea levels along France's coasts have been rising at nearly double the rate over the past two decades compared with the 20th century, according to a new report.

Melting ice shows through at a cliff face at Landsend, on the coast of Cape Denison in Antarctica. Reuters

Climate scientists who presented their findings to France's Ministry of Environment Wednesday said levels could rise by as much as 82cm by the year 2100 if nothing more is done to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.

France has mirrored the global average, which has seen 7cm added over the past 20 years. Levels are now climbing by 1.7mm annually, compared with 3.2mm a year in the 20th century, according to ocean scientist Anny Cazenave.

In Polynesia, the sea has risen 21cm in the 50 years to 2010, and 12cm in New Caledonia over the same period.

The report takes into account the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.