Malmö is at serious risk of extensive flooding as sea levels rise, according to new assessments from the city's municipal authorities. The city's urban planning strategist Josephine Nellerup described the situation as "blodigt allvar" (bloody serious) in interviews with Swedish media.
According to reports from Sydsvenskan and Aftonbladet, Malmö has four miles of coastline that lies dangerously low and requires protection against future flooding. The city's new risk map indicates that a continuous coastal protection system spanning 4.3 miles is needed to withstand future extreme storms.
It is actually bloody serious.
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) projects that sea levels could rise up to 91 centimeters by the end of the century. In Malmö's worst-case scenario, temporary water levels could reach 2.71 meters during an extreme storm. Under such conditions, the entire Västra Hamnen area and half of Bunkeflostrand risk being submerged.
The proposed solution involves a patchwork of embankments, walls, and elevated pedestrian and bicycle paths that would be constructed gradually over time. Water strategist Pär Svensson noted that while much of the construction could be delayed 50-100 years, planning for these protections must begin immediately.
The reports reference storm Malik from January 2022 as evidence of Malmö's growing vulnerability to climate change impacts, with images showing traffic lights protruding from floodwaters like sea markers.