The United Nations chief has said climate induced rising seas threaten to cause a “mass exodus on a biblical scale”.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent action as new research show climate driven inundations could displace a billion people.

An increase in the pace at which sea levels are rising threatens “a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale”, Mr Guterres warned.

A raft of new research shows the climate crisis is causing sea levels to rise at the fastest rate in 3,000 years.

Mr Guterres said this amounted to a “torrent of trouble” for almost a billion people, from London to Los Angeles and Bangkok to Buenos Aires.

He said some nations could cease to exist, drowned under the waves, he said.

Addressing the UN security council, Mr Guterres said slashing carbon emissions, addressing problems such as poverty that worsen the impact of rising seas on communities and developing new international laws to protect those made homeless – and even stateless – were desperately needed.

He said sea level rise was a threat-multiplier which, by damaging lives, economies and infrastructure, had “dramatic implications” for global peace and security.

Significant sea level rise is already inevitable with current levels of global heating, but the consequences of failing to tackle the problem are “unthinkable”.

“Low-lying communities and entire countries could disappear for ever. We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale. And we would see ever fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources,” Mr Guterres said.

“People’s human rights do not disappear because their homes do. This means international refugee law.”

A new analysis of data by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) shows that sea levels are rising fast and the global ocean has warmed faster over the past century than at any time in the past 11,000 years.

Sea levels rise as warmer water expands and ice caps and glaciers melt.

WMO secretary general Professor Pettari Taalas said: “Sea level rise imposes risks to economies, livelihoods, settlements, health, wellbeing, food and water security and cultural values in the near to long term.”

The new data shows that even if global heating is limited to 1.5C, which is unlikely, there will still be a sizeable sea level rise.

A sea level rise of around 50 cm by 2100 is likely, but the WMO said there would be a 2-3 metre rise over the next 2,000 years if heating were limited to 1.5C, and 2-6m if it were limited to 2C.

 A UN report in October said there was no credible pathway in place. Current national targets, if met, would mean a 2.4C rise in temperature.

Meanwhile, the International Law Commission is evaluating the legal situation. In 2020, the UN human rights committee ruled that ​​it was unlawful for governments to return people to countries where their lives might be threatened by the climate crisis.

A new analysis of data by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) shows that sea levels are rising fast and the global ocean has warmed faster over the past century than at any time in the past 11,000 years.

Sea levels rise as warmer water expands and ice caps and glaciers melt.

WMO secretary general Professor Pettari Taalas said: “Sea level rise imposes risks to economies, livelihoods, settlements, health, wellbeing, food and water security and cultural values in the near to long term.”

The new data shows that even if global heating is limited to 1.5C, which is unlikely, there will still be a sizeable sea level rise.

A sea level rise of around 50 cm by 2100 is likely, but the WMO said there would be a 2-3 metre rise over the next 2,000 years if heating were limited to 1.5C, and 2-6m if it were limited to 2C.

 A UN report in October said there was no credible pathway in place. Current national targets, if met, would mean a 2.4C rise in temperature.