A team of U.S. scientists says the sea level will rise by 12 to 22 meters even if the world successfully curbs global warming and keeps the temperature from rising no more than two degrees Celsius.

The team of scientists at Rutgers University found that the sea level was roughly 20 meters higher between two-point-seven and three-point-two million years ago when the temperature was two degrees Celsius higher. They also predicted that the sea level will rise by 80 centimeters by 2100.

The finding was made through a study on the geologic features of ancient times and published in the latest issue of the journal Geology.

The scientists said the rising sea level will result from the melting of ice shelves in Greenland and the western region of the Antarctic. They forecast that coastal areas around the world will be submerged and 70 percent of global population will be affected by the high sea level.