Scientists Predict the Disappearance of Half of Cyprus's Beaches

Scientists from the University of Cyprus have concluded that in the next 50 years, half of the island's beaches could disappear due to rising sea levels, putting all tourist infrastructure at risk.

Dr. Giorgos Zittis, a climate scientist from the Cyprus Institute, warned about the risks of losing half of Cyprus's beaches due to sea level rise.

"It is expected that sea level rise will destroy about 50% of Cyprus’s beaches," the scientist stated. According to Dr. Zittis, some of Cyprus’s infrastructure, such as airports, seaports, and power stations, is located near the sea, making them vulnerable to sea level rise. The tourism industry, focused on the beaches, is also at risk.

The study's author also emphasized that climate change will make Cyprus’s hot summers even hotter and drier.

"Cyprus and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region, which is also a climate change hotspot, mainly suffer from increasingly high temperatures, especially during the summer season," he said.

In contrast, Northern European countries primarily experience these changes in winter. Excessive heat will increase energy demand and pose a threat to agriculture and human health. Recent heatwaves have already caused heat-related deaths and increased the risk of wildfires.

It’s worth noting that the recent heatwave in Cyprus has led to a series of large wildfires on both parts of the island. In the Greek part, the Paphos region was particularly affected, while in the Turkish part, the most serious incidents occurred near the Incirli Cave and between the villages of Tatlisu and Mersinlik. In the Republic of Cyprus, two elderly women have already died from heatstroke.

Additionally, scientists predict a decrease in rainfall in Cyprus in the coming decades.

"Although the trends are not as clear as they are with temperature, we are moving towards a drier climate," Dr. Zittis believes.

To avoid such tragic consequences of climate change, Cyprus must significantly reduce emissions in the next decade and adapt to these hotter and drier conditions.

This could mean smarter water usage, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, growing heat-resistant crops, and even adjusting the tourism model to attract visitors during cooler times of the year.

"Our summer may become too hot even for tourists," the scientist concluded.