According to research published in Nature, man-made structures have hardened 33 per cent of the world’s sandy beaches. These beaches have hardened significantly due to the construction of impermeable surfaces like roads, seawalls, and urban infrastructure. Coastal hardening, which prevents shorelines from migrating and retreating naturally, is a growing concern. With 84% of its coastline hardened, the Bay of Bengal is in first place, followed by Western and Central Europe (68%) and the Mediterranean (65%).
The necessity to safeguard the constantly expanding coastal communities against erosion and floods, a tendency that has accelerated since the 1950s, is the driving force behind this broad coastal hardening. High-income areas, including California and the Atlantic coast of the United States, have made large expenditures in coastal infrastructure, which have led to beach erosion in front of these buildings.
Projected Beach Loss and Regional Vulnerabilities
According to the report, there will be a significant loss of beaches worldwide by the end of the twenty-first century. About 52,080 km of sandy shoreline may disappear under a “business as usual” scenario with current emission levels. It is anticipated that 42,080 km of coastline will be destroyed by 2050, even if emissions are cut in half. The study also highlights that the world’s sandy beaches have hardened, further exacerbating vulnerability to erosion and other climate impacts.
Northern South America, Eastern North America, the Mediterranean, the Bay of Bengal, Western Africa, and Southeast Asia are the areas most at risk. The study shows that man-made structures are closest to shorelines in Southern Australia, the Caribbean, and Northern South America, with an average distance of only 56 meters from the coast.
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Disparities in Coastal Resilience and Management
According to the study, high-income nations have the greatest proportion of sandy beaches at risk of erosion and hardened coasts as a result of significant investments in coastal infrastructure. On the other hand, inadequate mapping may result in an underestimate of erosion hazards in lower-income countries.
According to climate scientist Roxy Koll, coastal residents in low-income countries are particularly vulnerable because they lack the resources to adapt to the increasing consequences of climate change. Immediate policies and government action are needed to address this imbalance and reduce future losses.
The report emphasizes the critical need for climate mitigation initiatives and sustainable coastal management strategies to protect these important ecosystems and populations as hardened coastlines continue to grow.
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