The future of Europe’s coastline could change forever. According to data released by the European Environment Agency (EEA), sea level continues to rise at an increasingly rapid rate: between 2006 and 2018 it rose by 3.7 millimeters per year, more than double the average of the last century. A trend which, if not stopped, could wipe out some of the continent’s most beloved beaches by 2100.
From the study by the Dutch company Reinders Corporation, which analyzes the climate impact on European coasts, a worrying picture emerges: iconic locations such as Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, Benagil in Portugal and Porto Giunco in Sardinia risk disappearing under the waves.
Porto Giunco, the Sardinian pearl threatened by the sea
Porto Giunco, in southern Sardinia, also appears in the list of the ten most at-risk beaches in Europe. Considered one of the most pristine bays in the Mediterranean, the beach is famous for its white sand and shallow seabed reminiscent of tropical scenarios. However, marine erosion could push the coastline back by more than 100 meters by the end of the century, according to projections.
The problem is not just aesthetic or touristic. The beaches are an important natural bulwark against storm surges and the advance of the sea. Their loss exposes infrastructure, ecosystems and coastal communities to increasing risks.
From Iceland to the French Riviera: a continent in the balance
The phenomenon affects the entire continent, from north to south. The island of Værøy, in the Norwegian Lofoten, could lose almost 60 meters of coastline, while the picturesque Keem Bay in Ireland risks a retreat of 40 metres. The Côte d’Azur, with its Plage des Marinières near Nice, is also among the most vulnerable areas: the study predicts erosion of over 30 meters by 2100.
Local factors such as tourist overcrowding, the construction of infrastructure close to the sea and the absence of coordinated coastal planning contribute to making the situation worse.
An inevitable but manageable change
According to Giorgio Budillon, professor of Oceanography and Atmospheric Physics at the Parthenope University of Naples, the rise of the sea is now an inevitable process, linked to the thermal expansion of the oceans and the melting of the polar ice caps. However, the expert explained to EuroNews, “it is not a question of alarmism, but of realism: we can still limit the most serious effects”.
Rigid defenses such as dams or breakwaters, while being immediate solutions, often displace erosion elsewhere. However, there are more sustainable strategies: restoring dunes and beaches, protecting posidonia meadows and wetlands, which act as natural barriers against floods.
Rethinking coastal cities
Urban planning will also have to adapt. “We need planning that prevents new construction in risk areas and that creates coastal buffer zones,” underlined Budillon. The new rules should include early warning systems, constant monitoring and incentives for nature-based solutions.
Europe already has funds for coastal protection, but a common strategy is missing. Too many countries act only in emergencies, without an overall vision. “We need to move from the logic of repair to that of prevention,” warned Budillon. “Adapting today costs much less than rebuilding tomorrow.”
