Newsroom
Coastlines worldwide are facing an escalating crisis as climate change accelerates beach erosion, raising urgent questions about the future of the world’s beaches, according to a Financial Times report.
From Australia to the U.S., Spain, and India, shorelines are rapidly disappearing, with some areas losing up to 10 meters of sand annually. In Rodanthe, North Carolina, the beach recedes by 3 to 4.5 meters each year, resulting in 11 homes collapsing into the ocean since 2020. Local officials warn sand shortages, exacerbated by high demand from the construction industry, threaten the natural barrier that protects communities from flooding and storms.
Efforts to combat erosion often involve “beach nourishment,” the costly process of adding sand from underwater or river sources. Australia’s Victorian government has spent millions on such projects, while Rodanthe faces a $40 million price tag it cannot currently meet. Elsewhere, in Tiruchendur and Amalinagar, India, steep, eroding beaches are disrupting daily life and livelihoods, including fishing and religious activities.
Cities like Barcelona, which annually lose 30,000 cubic meters of sand, continue to add artificial sand and build coastal defenses. Yet experts caution that ongoing construction often blocks natural sand flow, worsening erosion over time.
Coastal scientists emphasize a difficult dilemma: whether to invest in costly shore reinforcements or accept “managed retreat,” relocating infrastructure as sea levels rise. “People need to come to terms with climate change and sea-level rise,” said coastal engineering expert Gary Griggs.
With 10% of the global population living near coasts and tourism economies dependent on beaches, the pressure to find sustainable solutions is mounting, but the long-term survival of many beaches remains uncertain.
With information from Financial Times.
