Unexpectedly, there has been a rise in global sea levels. This must worry our leaders. India, in particular, must take the lead, given the speed of adverse changes to sea level conditions. It has to meet the global efforts and move fast to safeguard its coastal population. Sea level rise was a concern usually relegated to the back seat till now as there were more pressing’ issues at hand. But this has apparently changed. A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ (PNAS) has found that the rate of rising sea levels is accelerating and not constant, as was believed earlier. Sea level rise, fueled by melting glaciers, was thought to be minimal or near constant but the latest revelations by PNAS has sent Governments, environmentalists and climate experts into a tizzy as this news changes everything by bringing real time threats and consequences of sea level rise into the forefront. It was earlier estimated that sea levels would rise at a constant rate of three mm/year but the research published in PNAS, conducted by a group of scientists from multiple universities and institutions in the US, has found that the sea level are rising at 0.08 mm every year. This means that by the end of the century, sea levels would rise at an alarming rate of 10 mm or more every year. This acceleration, driven mainly by accelerated melting in Greenland and Antarctica, has the potential to double the total sea level rise by 2100, as compared to projections that assume a constant rate to more than 60 cm instead of about 30 (cm). The bad news does not end here. Scientists feel that latest estimates may still be less and that the rates of actual sea level rise maybe greater. The reason for the estimates going awry is due to the fact that expected sea level increases are based on past 25-year track and the assumption that changes in sea level rise in the future will be similar to what it has been for the past 25 years. But as the latest study has shown, nothing could be far from actual reality. This because of rapid changes in the ice sheet melting observed the world over. Researchers calculate that the sea level may rise by around 65 cm by 2100. This would mean that many coastal cities will get affected by flooding and other related problems arising from sea level rise and India, with 7,516 km of coastline, has a lot to lose and bother about. Climate change leads to sea level rise because of simple thermal expansion of warm water and also due to melting of ice sheets in the Arctic or Antarctic. This sea level rise will affect populations living on the coast, as these would have to migrate inland, which means people living inland would have to accommodate the influx of migrants. Another research paper, published in the journal Nature Climate Change’ last year, estimates that around 13.1 million people will get displaced, moving inland, for a sea level rise of around 1.8 m. In the wake of these findings, urgent measures are being deployed across the world to minimise human losses and sufferings, besides implementing measures to check sea level rise. The global mean sea level (GMSL), increase in the 21st century has been three times as fast as what was observed for the bulk of the 20th century. Given the speed of the adverse changes to sea level conditions, India will have to meet the global efforts and move fast to safeguard its coastal population and implement appropriate remedial measures. In this effort, steps to contain green house gas emissions are probably the most crucial as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the main cause of sea level increase. Whether it is industrial emissions, vehicular pollution or the impact of thermal power plants, the Government needs to do its bit and rein in the GHG levels emanating from these sources. Additionally, wetlands conservation must be taken to high priority as they act as natural buffers for coastal areas during rainstorms and hurricanes. They absorb precipitation and storm surge waters. The Government needs to do away with knee-jerk reaction policies wherein measures to contain the damage are taken up with gusto once the disaster has struck. A pro-active and preventive measure is what the world is aiming for when it comes to safeguarding the environment. One can only image the plight of our villages, towns and cities when the sea levels gain a very possible 10 feet rise, and to avoid this spectre of destruction, it is not only the efforts of the Government but our individual roles as well that can save us from this emerging challenge of rising sea levels.