The Italian coast has lost beaches due to climate change

Picture Italy’s famous beaches – the sun-kissed sands stretch from the rugged cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the blue bays of Sardinia. These beaches? More than just pretty postcards; They boost the tourism economy, supporting tons of lives. But, get this, a new report says Paradise is in trouble. By 2050, Italy could lose nearly a fifth of its coastline to rising seas and erosion—a “bathroom shock” that could literally change the country’s appearance, economy, and just you know, life.

This prediction comes from “Sunken Landscapes”, a recent major study from the Italian Geographical Society (IGS). Looking at climate models, historical data, and geography, the report paints a grim picture of Italy’s 8,000-kilometer coastline. If we don’t do something big, study figures show that 40 to 45 percent of Italy’s beaches could disappear by the end of the century, depending on emissions and how we try to adapt.

The causes of the Italian offshore crisis

The main issue with this erosion is climate change, mainly sea level rise. Warm oceans rise, move along the coasts, and strong storms bring floods and wash away sand. “Italy’s coasts are very exposed to this because of their low-lying land and the large number of people who live there,” the report says, noting that even a small sea level rise – such as a 0.3 to 1 meter rise – could flood large areas.

But nature is not the only problem. People make it worse. Tourism, which generates more than 200 billion euros annually, has developed greatly in fragile coastal areas. Hotels, resorts, and boardwalks fill the water, disrupting natural sand movement and worsening erosion.

“Too much tourist stuff makes the situation worse,” say the IGS authors. “This not only puts a lot of pressure on the beaches but also leaves no room for nature to adapt.”

To top it off, the defense that is supposed to help is causing issues. Seawalls and barriers, built to protect beaches, often do not work. By preventing sand from moving along the beach, these objects strip nearby areas of sand, accelerating their end. “Short-term fixes create long-term problems,” the report warns, pushing for less “hard-engineered” and nature-friendly solutions.

Danger zones

Some beaches are in worse shape than others, and are places people like to visit. The northern Adriatic coast, with its busy cities, is in big trouble, as is the island of Gargano in Puglia – a UNESCO site known for its caves and beaches.

Farther south, the Maremma beaches of Tuscany, the volcanic beaches of Lazio near Rome, and the Gulf of Campania in Naples are truly at risk. Sardinia, a beautiful island, is also targeted: large areas around Cagliari and Orestano will be destroyed, hurting the island’s tourism economy.

Even Italy’s wetlands—areas shaped like wetlands—are at risk. The Po Delta, with rivers and marshes full of birds, and the Venetian lagoon show how dangerous it is. Here, the rising water doesn’t just take the beach; They blur the line between land and sea, covering old sites and nature spots.

A story of consequences

The issues of these “submerged landscapes” go beyond the loss of coastlines. Socially, the report thinks that around 800,000 Italians – mostly in fishing towns – may move, causing displacement and loss of culture. “It’s not just the beaches; it’s the houses and the history,” the study said.

The economic impact is, obviously, huge, researchers told reporters. Think about it: half of the port infrastructure in Italy, so important for trade and even fishing, is exposed. It potentially destroys logistics hubs, places like Geneva, Trieste, Bari. Then there is agriculture, also facing an uncertain future. It is estimated that about 10 percent of agricultural land in the country is at risk of salinization, which basically renders the soil unusable. The Po Delta, known for producing a quarter of Europe’s rice production, is particularly at risk. Irrigation salt water? This can destroy crops, which has obvious implications for food security and export earnings, the study points out.

And environmentally, it’s a similar story of cascading problems. Barrier beaches, which protect the inland ecosystem from storms, are at risk of destruction. This, in turn, endangers wetlands, dune systems, and marine nurseries. Biodiversity sites, such as flocks of flamingos in the Po Delta or birds of seagrass, are at risk of extinction, which only adds to Italy’s extensive losses related to climate change.

Ways to protect

Despite this bleak picture, the IGS report is not simply sorry. In fact, it provides a course of action. The authors strongly suggest “trade-offs” as an important part of recovery: as natural defenses as buffers that can absorb wave energy and absorb net erosion, essentially restoring mangroves, dune systems and oyster reefs. “Nature-based solutions,” they suggest, “can rebuild resilience in areas where concrete structures have proven inadequate,” citing some successful examples in places like the Netherlands and Louisiana.

Then there is the strategic retreat, an admittedly difficult but perhaps inevitable step. This includes gradually reducing development in high-risk areas—perhaps even reclaiming properties located along the coast and replacing infrastructure—which could give the ecosystem a little more time to recover. Combined with stricter regulations on zoning to limit coastal development and providing incentives to promote eco-tourism, this could potentially cut the projected losses in half.

The good news is that Italy is starting from absolutely nothing. Initiatives such as the European Union’s Green Deal, with funds such as the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), provide significant resources for adaptation to changing coastlines. However, the report emphasizes that time is perhaps their most valuable asset. The authors conclude that “decisive, coordinated efforts taken now have the potential to protect Italy’s coasts for future generations.”

As Italy deals with these dramatic changes, the whole world is watching closely. Given that beaches everywhere face similar threats—from the drowning towns in Miami to the lost delta of Bangladesh—”Sunken Landscapes” is a wake-up call in many ways. Will Italy lead the way on how to join the sea, or instead end the example of caution? Waves, alas, wait for no one.