"Rapid Sinking: Millions at Risk in China's Major Cities and US Coasts"

A new study reveals that nearly half of China's urban areas, home to 270 million people, are sinking due to factors such as rampant groundwater extraction and the growing weight of cities. This land subsidence, exacerbated by climate change-fueled drought, puts coastal areas at risk of flooding and rising sea levels. The impact is not limited to China, as other countries also face similar challenges. While some coastal areas in China have built protections against inundation, the study emphasizes the need for continued efforts to control groundwater pumping and maintain coastal dike systems to address the issue of land subsidence.