Coastal Disasters in the Mediterranean: The Risks of Climate Change

Climate change is causing increasing destruction along Europe's coasts, particularly in the Mediterranean region. The rise in the overall sea level (average sea level, strong waves, storm surges, tides), combined with the retreat of coastlines due to erosion, is creating increasing risks for coastal areas.

A prime example of the significance of sea level is the city of Venice, which faces chronic flooding, with the phenomenon intensifying due to the gradual increase in average sea levels and tides. Floods are becoming more frequent, affecting daily life, tourism, and the infrastructure of the port and the city.

Another example is Delos. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion could gradually sink or destroy valuable historical monuments, such as temples, houses and mosaics, located near the coast.

At the same time, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates on coastal risks in the Mediterranean, regions experiencing land subsidence, such as Thessaloniki, are also expected to face chronic flooding in the future.

The Mediterranean is expected to see the most rapid increases in climate risks by 2050, according to the IPCC's 6th Assessment Report.

Τα κύματα καταιγίδας – δηλαδή οι απότομες και έντονες αυξήσεις της στάθμης της θάλασσας κατά τη διάρκεια καταιγίδων – αναμένεται να ενταθούν, προκαλώντας σοβαρές επιπτώσεις στις λιμενικές υποδομές της Μεσογείου και ενισχύοντας την απώλεια εδαφών σε παράκτιες περιοχές.

Storm surges – sudden and sharp increases in sea level during storms – are expected to intensify, severely impacting port infrastructure in the Mediterranean and increasing the loss of coastal areas.

As a result, ports located in low-lying areas, such as those in Greece, may suffer significant damage from the flooding caused by the combined rise in sea level and storms. This means that shallow ports will be hit more frequently and may become less functional, which will impact the economy and maritime transportation.

Small beaches – also known as "pocket beaches" – are among the areas that will be affected first, as rising sea levels make them particularly vulnerable. In the Aegean Sea, for example, in the scenario of a temperature increase of more than 3°C, which is linked to limited or no efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a rise in the overall sea level by 50 cm by 2050, 90% of small beaches are at risk of being completely submerged, at least for some period of time.

We can see that even one aspect of climate change puts a large number of areas at risk, as well as the safety of human lives, the smooth functioning of society, and business activities (such as tourism, ferry services, and maritime cargo transportation).

The prediction of these phenomena and the implementation of necessary mitigation measures are crucial in order to to protect coastal areas and ensure their future sustainability..

With our RIBIA and RiskClima platforms, a comprehensive assessment of these risks and the transition to a more sustainable business model is possible.