New research by NASA showing sea levels could rise by more than one metre would likely impact Malta, according to a climate change expert.

International Maritime Law Institute director David Attard believes the findings are a cause for concern: “The increase is considerable and could wipe out huge coastal areas and certainly some island states... sea level rise will have a particular effect on the ecology of the coasts, and in the case of Malta, likely impact the whole country.”

Over the years, as temperatures around the world have risen, climate change researchers have kept an eye on one place in particular: the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, where six glaciers hang in a precarious balance.

New findings show a massive portion of this ice sheet is on an “unstoppable” decline, meaning predictions on sea level rise would need to be revised upwards.

Data from the Malta Resources Authority already shows that major coastal areas prone to the impact of sea level rise and storm surges include the northeast coast of Malta, the north and southeast coast of Gozo, as well as the northern coast of Comino.

The challenges Malta faces include desertification, drought, a rise in temperatures, sea level rise, heat waves.

More on the Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com.