While COP30 started this Monday, November 10, global warming is already transforming our territories. All over the world, regions are threatened. Here are five examples that show how much climate is changing our world, here and elsewhere.

Floods, droughts, melting ice, salinization… climate change hits everywhere, sometimes where we least expect it. At the dawn of COP 30 which has been held since Monday, November 10, this article presents five threatened territorieseach for a different reason, and reminds us that the climate crisis is not a distant story.

1 – The Tavulu and the rising waters

A small state made up of nine atolls, Tuvalu has an extremely low average altitude. Less than one to two meters above sea level, which makes the country particularly vulnerable. Scientists have found that sea levels around Tuvalu has already increased by around 15 cm in 30 years. A rate higher than the world average. The infiltration of salt water weakens plantations and fresh water, and king tides now regularly flood inhabited areas.

In July 2025, Australia offered visas for citizens of Tuvalu in the frame ” of a climate migration agreement“. There would have been no less than 8,750 registrationseither 82% of the population of the archipelago. This is the first climate-related migration agreement. 95% of Tuvalu’s territory could be flooded by periodic high tides if the rise in temperatures was not kept below 1.5°C, and this… before the end of the century.

2 – The Amazon and deforestation

The Amazon rainforest is the largest set of tropical forest of the worlda pillar for the global climate. However, new research shows that it could reach a “tipping point” (tipping point) by 2050. Between 10% and 47% of the forest would be threatened by all the consequences of global warming. According to researchers, in the event of drought, fires and deforestation, part of the Amazon could switch to a “savannah” state (smaller plants, grasses). And in this new landscape, it would absorb less CO₂or even emit more carbon than it stores.

Also read: Global warming: the Amazon rainforest releases more CO2 than it absorbs

3 – Greenland and the melting of the ice

Although not densely populated, Greenland plays a major role. Its ice cap is melting at an increasing ratewhich fuels the rise of the oceans, modifies ocean currents and has ripple effects on a planetary scale. The disruption of this climatic “machine” therefore has repercussions well beyond its shores.. The Greenland ice sheet will continue to melt during the 21st century.

If emissions remain very high, this could contribute to a sea ​​level rise of around 90 mm by 2100 ; in a more optimistic scenario, this increase would be around 32mm. Even if we stop increasing emissions, the meltdown already underway seems inevitable: studies estimate that at least 3.3% of the cap will be lost, which would result in approximately 27 cm rise in sea level.

You could watch the news 24/7 and not know that:

Our planet has never been so hot in 120,000 years.
Methane levels are the highest in MILLIONS of years.
CO2 levels are at their highest level in 3 MILLION years.… pic.twitter.com/sQyXSID1SB

— 📚🏺Charles de Ch🅰️rdin 🇫🇷🏺📚 (@de_chardin) November 8, 2025

4 – The Sahel and desertification

This vast semi-arid zone, located between the Sahara desert and tropical savannahs, is subject to a strong increase in climate change: increase in temperature (faster than the world average), increasingly erratic rains, frequent droughts. This stressed climate causes soil degradation, the exhaustion of arable land, the scarcity of water and pushes populations to migrate.

More than 80% of inhabitants depend on rainfed crops or livestock. Since the 1950s, the Sahel has experienced very marked warming. The average temperature has increased by approximately 1.5°C. Even greater increases at night (up to +2°C) depending on the region. To go further, in 2040studies predict a warming of +2°C. This corresponds to a warming rate 1.5 times higher to the world average.

Also read: Global warming: the High Climate Council calls on the government to act more

5 – The Camargue (South of France) and the retreat of the coastline

In France, we may believe that global warming is a long way off. And yet, the Camarguethis Rhône delta between land and sea, is on the front line. The signs of disruption are already very concrete. LThe sea level there rises by around 2 to 6 mm per year, according to the regional natural park. The projections for 2100 are alarming: studies envisage an increase in 63 to 102 cm on the Camargue coast. What is particularly worrying is that 70% of the land in the Camargue is less than one meter above sea level.

This rise in water levels is accompanied salt intrusion. Salt from the sea rises into the soil, which weakens agriculture (especially rice) and traditional pastures. At the same time, the flow of the Rhône (which theoretically allows the salt to be diluted) is decreasing. Between 1960 and 2020, it decreased by 7% at the exit of Lake Genevathen 13% in Camargue. Ultimately, if nothing is done, solutions like reinforced dikes or “controlled retreat” of the coastline could be considered to protect this fragile territory.