Cambie Street bridge pillars marked for where the sea level will rise over the years

Sea level rise

Sea level rise is caused by the ocean expanding as it heats up due to global warming and as major stores of ice from glaciers and ice sheets melt.

Around the world, sea level rise and flood-related events are causing billions of dollars in damage.

Cities are responding with efforts to enhance their communities’ resilience to flooding. Vancouver is planning for this now, to prevent impacts of major catastrophes and to avoid major costs down the road.

Vancouver's Changing Shoreline (6.85 MB)

Read how we're preparing for sea level rise.

Help us document rising sea levels

Sea level rise times

November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023
Nov 26, 8:17am Dec 25, 8:03am Jan 22, 6:57am Feb 22, 7:14am
Nov 27, 9:10am Dec 26, 8:46am Jan 23, 7:32am Regular high tide
Nov 28, 10:02am Dec 27, 9:28am Jan 24, 8:07am Regular high tide
Nov 29, 10:53am Dec 28, 10:08am Jan 25, 8:40am Regular high tide
Regular high tide Dec 29, 10:45am Jan 26, 9:12am Regular high tide

 

Storm surges along the Stanley Park Seawall

Snap photos of the 2022 and 2023 king tides and provide us with critical information to help improve our understanding of the changing shoreline.

Email your photos to sealevelrise@vancouver.ca or post to social and tag us @greenestcity.

Learn about King Tides

Map of sea levels, 2016 and 2100, if no adaptation measures are implemented

Sea level image showing 2016 conditions Projected sea level rise during extreme storm in 2100

 

Legend

Downtown

English
Bay

Kits Beach

Airport

PNE

Stanley
Park

UBC

What you can do

Learn from experts

We hosted a series of lectures with SFU to discuss how Vancouver will be impacted and what we can do to prepare.

Green opportunities for residents and businesses

Learn about City programs that will help you reduce your carbon footprint at home and work, find volunteer opportunities, and more.

How much do you know about sea level rise?

By City of Vancouver

Take our short quiz to test your knowledge.

  • Question one

    By City of Vancouver

    How many meters of sea level rise are we planning for by 2100?

  • Answer one

    By City of Vancouver

    We are planning for one meter of sea rise for 2100. The Province of BC provided this projection for local municipalities.

  • Question two

    By City of Vancouver

    Sea level rise is partially caused by the melting of land ice and ice sheets adding water to our oceans. What causes this phenomenon?

  • Answer two

    By City of Vancouver

    High levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, leading to rising air temperatures and the melting of land ice.

  • Question three

    By City of Vancouver

    As the ocean creeps up due to sea level rise, the beach area exposed during low tide will shrink. What is this phenomenon called?

  • Answer three

    By City of Vancouver

    Coastal squeeze. This will result in the loss of habitat of birds, forage fish, mussels, and clams in Vancouver’s shoreline ecosystem.

  • Question four

    By City of Vancouver

    With one meter of sea level rise, how many square kilometres of land in the City of Vancouver will be in the flood plain?

  • Answer four

    By City of Vancouver

    13 square kilometers. This estimate is based on a projected sea level rise of one meter and without flood management interventions.

  • Question five

    By City of Vancouver

    Complete the sentence: The City of Vancouver has a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least __% by the year 2050 through our Renewable City Strategy.

  • Answer five

    By City of Vancouver

    80%. Reducing greenhouse gases will help reduce the amount of sea level rise we will have to adapt to. Learn about the Renewable City Strategy.

  • Question six

    By City of Vancouver

    In 2012, Vancouver City Council adopted which strategy to ensure Vancouver remains vibrant, liveable, and resilient in the face of climate change?

  • Answer six

    By City of Vancouver

    The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Because sea levels don’t respond instantly to warming, we are committed to a certain amount of continued sea level rise into the future. Learn more about the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

  • Question seven

    By City of Vancouver

    What action(s) can you take reduce individual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions?

  • Answer seven

    By City of Vancouver

    You can compost your food waste, eat more vegetarian meals, insulate your home and reduce energy leaks, and use transit, cycle, or walk more. These are a few ways that you can curb your emissions and help slow sea level rise.

Contact

sealevelrise@vancouver.ca