Norfolk student’s apocalyptic photos show impact of global warming on iconic cities

A student from Norfolk has created a series of photos to show how the world's most iconic cities will be changed by global warming over the next 10 years.

Twenty-year-old Jake Wiseman from Attleborough was inspired to create the images to alert people about the lesser talked about consequences of climate change.

The photos show twelve iconic cities including London, Sydney and Amsterdam, submerged by water as a result of mass floods caused by rising sea and river levels.

Mr Wiseman, who is studying creative advertising at the University of Lincoln, presented the images in the form of a 2030 calendar, the year the UN has specified as the deadline for cutting emissions by 45pc.

He said: "A lot of people understand that global warming means an increase in temperature and droughts but do not know that it also means sea levels will rise at a dangerous rate. People think it's a problem for future generations so I wanted to put a date on the images to show how close the threat is."

The Attleborough artist started the project as part of a university assignment, but said people's reaction to the work had encouraged him to expand his reach.

"A lot of people said they find it challenging to look at. On the one hand it looks beautiful because these are places we love but on the other it's disturbing to see how global warming will affect them. Its one thing to hear facts and figures about rising water levels but when you see what that will look like it brings the reality home."

Mr Wiseman said he was in the process of printing more copies of the calendar and that he planned to donate any money raised by sales to environmental charities and local campaign groups.

He added: "Unless people want to plan their year a decade in advance it isn't intended to be used as a calendar - although all the dates are correct for 2030. It's meant to be a reminder that we are all under threat unless we make changes."