Global sea level rise has increased by 50 percent in just over two decades, according to Australian and international research.

The study - featuring researchers from the CSIRO, UNSW and the University of Tasmania - found that global sea level rise has increased from 2.2 mm each year in 1993 to 3.3 mm each year in 2014.

The authors indicate that this change is likely to be mostly from the dramatic increase in contribution from the Greenland ice sheet.

In 1993, Greenland sheet accounted for only 5 per cent of global sea level rise but in 2014 this figure has now risen to 25 per cent.

Global mean sea level appears to have been rising at a faster rate during the satellite altimetry period (1993–2014) than previous decades, and is expected to accelerate further over the coming century.

However, the authors note that accelerations observed over century and longer periods have not been clearly detected in altimeter data spanning the past two decades.

The researchers say their study highlights the importance of creating coastal adaptation plans that address sea level rise and the urgency of mitigating climate change.

The study is accessible here.