Earthquakes increasingly influence sea levels through VLM, adding complexity to coastal risk management in regions already vulnerable to climate change.

Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs face severe threats from rising seas and tectonic shifts, with mangroves declining by up to 8% annually and coral reefs projected to decrease by 70% to 90% by 2050.

Nearly half of the ocean surface is experiencing sea level rise faster than the global average, compounded by land subsidence rates of about 5 mm per year in many coastal areas.

The global sea level is rising at approximately 3.3 mm annually, with projections indicating a rise of up to 0.59 meters by 2100, threatening low-lying areas with severe flooding.

By the end of the century, around 360 million people could be affected by coastal flooding, with some regions experiencing fivefold increases in annual flooding due to sea-level rise and earthquake-induced land subsidence.

Unpredictable earthquake-driven changes in sea levels complicate adaptation, as coastal regions must balance development needs with habitat preservation amid seismic activity.

Recent earthquakes, such as Japan's 2024 Noto Peninsula quake and the 2009 Samoa-Tonga event, have caused land uplift and subsidence, respectively, significantly impacting local relative sea levels.

International efforts like the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project demonstrate the importance of climate finance in helping small island nations and developing countries build resilience against rising seas.

Vertical Land Motion (VLM), driven by natural and human factors like earthquakes, plays a crucial role in altering sea levels and increasing risks for seismically active coastal areas.

Addressing earthquake-driven sea-level rise requires coordinated policies across local, national, and international levels that consider seismic risks alongside climate change.