10 Cities That Might Disappear by 2030

The threat of climate change, rising sea levels, natural disasters, and rapid urbanization is making many people think about the future of their cities. While cities have historically been centers of culture, commerce, and civilization, some are now facing existential threats.

By 2030, certain locations may struggle to survive due to environmental, economic, and political problems. If you want to find out the cities that are in danger of disappearing or face irreparable damage by the end of the decade, keep on reading!

1. Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta, the bustling capital of Indonesia, is the most affected city by climate change. That’s because the city is situated on the coast and is rapidly sinking due to excessive groundwater extraction, a phenomenon worsened by the city’s weighty infrastructure and overpopulation.

The city has already sunk by as much as 2.5 meters in some areas, and experts say that by 2030, a big portion of Jakarta could be submerged. Additionally, the rising sea levels worsen the flooding during the rainy season.

Moreover, Jakarta’s traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and pollution make it even more difficult to live in. The Indonesian government has already started planning to move the capital to Borneo to reduce the stress on Jakarta. If there is nothing done, by 2030 the city could be uninhabitable.

2. Venice, Italy

Venice has always been an iconic city, known for its water canals and beautiful architecture. However, it is sinking rapidly. The city is situated on some small islands in a lagoon, and rising sea levels due to climate change are causing the waters to flood the city.

Experts estimate that Venice is sinking by about 1-2 millimeters per year, which might not sound so bad, but it adds up over time.

Many attempts were made to improve the situation, including projects like the MOSE flood barrier system, but nothing seems to work. If measures are not accelerated and successfully implemented, Venice could face destruction by the end of the decade, losing both its cultural and architectural heritage.

3. New Orleans, United States

New Orleans is the first American city on our list that faces existential threats from both natural disasters and rising sea levels. The city is sinking at a rate of about 1 inch per year, due to the fact that the land on which the city is built is slowly submerging. In the meantime, the sea levels rise at a steady rate.

The city is also prone to hurricanes, and the damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is a grim reminder of how vulnerable New Orleans is to extreme weather conditions. Despite the construction of levees and other flood defenses, the city is continuously facing risks from future devastating hurricanes and tornadoes.

4. Manila, Philippines

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is the home of more than 12 million people and is located on the coastline. The city is at risk due to the rising sea levels and frequent typhoons.

Manila already experiences flooding, and its low-lying position makes it vulnerable to storm surges during the monsoon season. Additionally to climate change, rapid urbanization and poor waste management worsen the drainage problems, causing the flooding to become more severe.

While the population grows and the city becomes more crowded, Manila faces serious problems in terms of sustainability and environmental challenges, and by 2030 the poor conditions might lead to a large-scale migration away from the capital.

5. Miami, United States

Miami, located on the Florida coast, is one of the most vulnerable cities in the United States due to the rising sea levels. The city experiences frequent and severe flooding, especially during the high tides. The increasing hurricane intensity that combines with the region’s low elevation and the melting of polar ice caps puts Miami in danger of becoming uninhabitable by 2030.

Like many other cities, Miami faces intense heat waves that are likely to worsen as climate change continues. While authorities make big efforts to fortify the coastline and implement flood control measures, experts warn that parts of the city might be submerged by the end of the decade. In this case, Miami would become one of the first major United States cities to face the reality of permanent relocation due to climate change.

6. Alexandria, Egypt

Alexandria, the second-largest city in Egypt, is located on the Mediterranean coast, making it vulnerable to rising sea levels. It is also situated in the Nile Delta, one of the most at-risk regions for flooding caused by climate change. As the sea levels rise, saltwater that gets into the freshwater threatens to destroy the drinkable resources.

Alexandria is one of the cities that gets the most intense storms, and the resulting flooding endangers the city’s infrastructure.

Egypt’s government has already begun planning for potential mass migrations and other strategies, but if the current climate changes continue, Alexandria could become destroyed and mostly depopulated by 2030.

7. Honolulu, United States

Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, is one of the cities that will face a similar fate to Miami. The city already experiences many problems, like rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and coastal erosion that cause some neighborhoods to flood.

As one of the most popular tourist destination cities, Honolulu is also battling economic instability caused by the decline in the number of visitors per year. This is due to the fact that the climate changes have become more visible and also affect the region’s natural resources.

The Honolulu coastline is very vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels, and experts predict that by the end of the decade, the city will be flooded.

8. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town, one of the cities known for its natural beauty and cultural and historical heritages, is facing an uncertain future. In recent years, the city has experienced severe droughts, and the freshwater supply is almost gone.

In 2018, Cape Town’s water supply was so low that the authorities feared that the taps would run dry. The crisis was avoided through water-saving regulations.

Climate change is worsening the water supply problems, and by 2030, Cape Town could face even more frequent and severe droughts, reducing its capacity to support its population. In combination with rapid urban growth and pretty limited infrastructure, the city can disappear by 2030.

9. Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh and is one of the most populated and polluted cities in the world. It is located on the banks of a river and is currently sinking due to the extraction of groundwater that’s making the land slide down. The rising sea levels in the Gulf of Bengal also cause flooding around the city.

Dhaka is even more vulnerable than other cities because Bangladesh is the most affected country by natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and storm surges. The combination of population growth, lack of infrastructure, and climate changes makes this city to be in danger of becoming uninhabitable by 2030.

10. Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos is the biggest city in Nigeria and has a population of more than 20 million people. Even if the city is quickly developing, it is facing a lot of environmental risks due to its location on the coast and the exposure to the effects of climate change.

The increasing population and lack of proper infrastructure only make the situation worse. Lagos is fighting pollution, struggling with the old drainage system and overcrowding, all of which could turn the city into an uninhabitable space by the end of the decade.

If you are now planning to travel to one of the cities on our list, maybe a travel journal would be helpful.

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