In the endless parade of climate catastrophe predictions, few have been as persistently hyped as the notion of drowning coastlines and vanishing islands due to skyrocketing sea levels. For years, we’ve been bombarded with dire warnings: entire cities submerged, mass migrations, and billions in damages—all courtesy of human-induced global warming. But a groundbreaking new study has pulled back the curtain on this hysteria, revealing that sea levels aren’t rising any faster than they have for the past century.
The study, published in “The Journal of Marine Science and Engineering”, comes from Dutch hydraulic engineer Hessel Voortman and researcher Rob de Vos. They dove into vast datasets from around the world, examining sea level records from over 150,000 coastal locations using sources like the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) and the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS). What they found is a far cry from the apocalyptic scenarios peddled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and echoed in mainstream media. After rigorous analysis—filtering for long-term, high-quality data spanning at least 60 years and applying statistical tests for acceleration—the researchers concluded that in about 95% of suitable locations, there’s no statistically significant speedup in sea level rise.
Let’s break down the numbers. The average observed rate of sea level rise as of 2020? A modest 1.4 to 1.7 millimeters per year, with a median around 1.5 to 1.9 mm/year. That’s roughly six inches over the entire century—matching the steady, non-alarming pace we’ve seen since the early 1900s. No sudden surge from melting ice caps or warming oceans. In fact, the study highlights that where acceleration does appear in that tiny 5% of spots, it’s likely due to local factors like subsidence, tectonic shifts, or even earthquakes, not some global climate boogeyman. Think places like Japan’s coast after the 2011 Tohoku quake or subsiding areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
This directly contradicts the fear-mongering models that have dominated the discourse. Remember Michael Oppenheimer from Princeton University? Back in 2019, he warned of sea levels potentially rising over 34 inches by 2100, based on shaky assumptions about Antarctic ice melt and ocean responses to temperature changes. The IPCC’s own 2021 projections, under their middle-of-the-road emissions scenario, overestimated rates by about 2 mm per year compared to real-world observations. These models, it turns out, haven’t been properly checked against actual data—until now. Voortman, who started this work out of curiosity for his engineering projects in the Netherlands, funded much of it himself, underscoring how independent scrutiny can expose the flaws in consensus-driven science.
But don’t expect this revelation to slow down the climate crusaders. Events like “Climate Week” will roll on, filled with the same recycled alarms about extreme weather ramping up or the Great Barrier Reef being on its deathbed—claims that have been repeatedly debunked by data showing no increase in hurricanes, floods, or coral decline. The reef, for instance, has shown record growth in recent years, yet the headlines scream otherwise. Why? Because facts don’t fit the narrative.
The real tragedy here isn’t imaginary flooding; it’s the economic self-sabotage being pushed under the banner of “net zero” emissions. Western governments are forcing a shift away from reliable fossil fuels toward intermittent wind and solar, jacking up energy costs and stifling growth. Look at Europe: nations chasing these policies have seen their economies lag, with factories shutting down and households burdened by sky-high bills. In the U.S., states like New York and New Jersey are prime examples, where “green” mandates have driven electricity prices through the roof while doing zilch for the planet. Meanwhile, powerhouses like China and India pay lip service to Paris Accord promises but keep building coal plants at a breakneck pace—because they know affordable energy is key to prosperity.
What’s driving this madness? It’s not science; it’s ideology and self-interest. The climate agenda empowers government bureaucrats, UN officials, and a web of NGOs with endless funding streams. It justifies massive state interventions, from subsidies for “green” tech cronies to carbon taxes that line pockets. Billions are funneled to allies in the name of saving the Earth, all while ignoring studies like this one that poke holes in the foundation.
Voortman and de Vos deserve acclaim for their meticulous work, but they’ll probably face the usual backlash: smeared as “deniers” or buried in obscurity. The cult doesn’t tolerate dissent, especially when it threatens the trillion-dollar industry built on fear. As sea levels continue their gentle, predictable creep, the alarmists will keep shouting about the end times. But armed with real data, the rest of us can see through the hype—and demand policies based on reality, not hysteria.
