Latest news with #sealevelrise
Reuters
an hour ago
- Science
- Reuters
Rising seas and shifting sands attack ancient Alexandria from below
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, July 23 (Reuters) - From her ninth-floor balcony over Alexandria's seafront, Eman Mabrouk looked down at the strip of sand that used to be the wide beach where she played as a child. "The picture is completely different now," she said. The sea has crept closer, the concrete barriers have got longer and the buildings around her have cracked and shifted. Every year 40 of them collapse across Egypt's second city, up from one on average a decade ago, a study shows. The storied settlement that survived everything from bombardment by the British in the 1880s to attacks by crusaders in the 1160s is succumbing to a subtler foe infiltrating its foundations. The warming waters of the Mediterranean are rising, part of a global phenomenon driven by climate change. In Alexandria, that is leading to coastal erosion and sending saltwater seeping through the sandy substrate, undermining buildings from below, researchers say. "This is why we see the buildings in Alexandria being eroded from the bottom up," said Essam Heggy, a water scientist at the University of Southern California who co-wrote the study published in February describing a growing crisis in Alexandria and along the whole coast. The combination of continuous seawater rises, ground subsidence and coastal erosion means Alexandria's coastline has receded on average 3.5 metres a year over the last 20 years, he told Reuters. 'For many people who see that climatic change is something that will happen in the future and we don't need to worry about it, it's actually happening right now, right here," Heggy said. The situation is alarming enough when set out in the report - "Soaring Building Collapses in Southern Mediterranean Coasts" in the journal "Earth's Future". For Mabrouk, 50, it has been part of day-to-day life for years. She had to leave her last apartment when the building started moving. "It eventually got slanted. I mean, after two years, we were all ... leaning," she told Reuters. "If you put something on the table, you would feel like it was rolling." Egypt's government has acknowledged the problem and promised action. Submerged breakwaters reduce coastal wave action and truckloads of sand replenish stripped beaches. Nine concrete sea barriers have been set up "to protect the delta and Alexandria from the impact of rising sea waves," Alexandria's governor, Ahmed Khaled Hassan, said. The barriers stretch out to sea, piles of striking geometric shapes, their clear curves and lines standing out against the crumbling, flaking apartment blocks on the land. Authorities are trying to get in ahead of the collapses by demolishing buildings at risk. Around 7,500 were marked for destruction and 55,000 new housing units will be built, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a crowd as he stood on one of the concrete barriers on July 14. "There isn't a day that passes without a partial or complete collapse of at least one building that already had a demolition order," Madbouly said. Some are hopeful the measures can make a difference. "There are no dangers now ... They have made their calculations," coffee shop owner Shady Mostafa said as he watched builders working on one of the barriers. Others are less sure. Alexandria's 70-km (45-mile) long coastal zone was marked down as the most vulnerable in the whole Mediterranean basin in the February report. Around 2% of the city's housing stock – or about 7,000 buildings – were probably unsafe, it added. Every day, more people are pouring into the city - Alexandria's population has nearly doubled to about 5.8 million in the last 25 years, swollen by workers and tourists, according to Egypt's statistics agency CAPMAS. Property prices keep going up, despite all the risks, trackers show. Sea levels are rising across the world, but they are rising faster in the Mediterranean than in many other bodies of water, partly because the relative shallowness of its sea basin means it is warming up faster. The causes may be global, but the impacts are local, said 26-year-old Alexandria resident Ahmed al-Ashry. "There's a change in the buildings, there's a change in the streets," he told Reuters. "Every now and then we try to renovate the buildings, and in less than a month, the renovations start to fall apart. Our neighbours have started saying the same thing, that cracks have started to appear."
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
To Build Affordable Housing, One State Could Loosen Flood Protections
New Jersey officials this week proposed that affordable housing projects in coastal flood zones be allowed to apply for 'hardship' exemptions from new building regulations meant to protect homes from rising sea levels. The proposed revision to the regulations, known as the Resilient Environments and Landscape Rules, aims to ensure that the environmental guidelines don't discourage the construction of affordable homes in a state experiencing a housing crunch. But some climate experts and activists in the state, where the vast majority of the coast line is at high risk of erosion and sea level rise, say that such a waiver could place some of New Jersey's most economically vulnerable residents in harm's way. 'What is expensive are the storms,' said Jennifer Coffey, the executive director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, a nonprofit. 'These are the people who are the least resilient to recovering from natural disasters.' The rules were first proposed last summer and have yet to be enacted. They are the final part of a broader package of measures addressing climate change that was introduced by Gov. Philip D. Murphy in 2020. The regulatory package also includes statewide rules for infrastructure projects and the managing of storm water. Rules offering protection against inland flooding were adopted two years ago. The proposed revisions, if implemented, would make New Jersey among the first states to integrate protective measures against climate change, in particular sea level rise, into its building code. The revisions were posted on Monday for a 60-day public comment period, which will be followed by a hearing in September and final approval in January. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump Told Park Workers to Report Displays That ‘Disparage' Americans. Here's What They Flagged.
At Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina, the Trump administration is set to review, and possibly remove or alter, signs about how climate change is causing sea levels to rise. At Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, the administration will soon decide whether to take down exhibits on the brutality of slavery. And at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Florida, Trump officials are scrutinizing language about the imprisonment of Native Americans inside the Spanish stone fortress. According to internal documents reviewed by The New York Times, employees of the National Park Service have flagged descriptions and displays at scores of parks and historic sites for review in connection with President Trump's directive to remove or cover up materials that 'inappropriately disparage Americans.' In an executive order in March, the president instructed the Park Service to review plaques, films and other materials presented to visitors at 433 sites around the country, with the aim of ensuring they emphasize the 'progress of the American people' and the 'grandeur of the American landscape.' Employees had until last week to flag materials that could be changed or deleted, and the Trump administration said it would remove all 'inappropriate' content by Sept. 17, according to the internal agency documents. The public also has been asked to submit potential changes. Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Okracoke Ponies: we do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance.' Carlos Bernate for The New York Times Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Okracoke Ponies: we do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance.' Carlos Bernate for The New York Times Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Okracoke Ponies: we do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance.' Carlos Bernate for The New York Times Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Okracoke Ponies: we do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance.' Carlos Bernate for The New York Times Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Okracoke Ponies: we do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance.' Carlos Bernate for The New York Times The directive on national parks is part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to promote a more positive view of the nation's history. In his executive order, the president also took aim at the Smithsonian Institution, claiming that it had promoted 'narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.' Critics have warned that these moves could lead to the erasure of difficult periods of American history, as well as contributions made by people of color, gay and transgender figures, women and other marginalized groups. 'The national parks were established to tell the American story, and we shouldn't just tell all the things that make us look wonderful,' said Dan Wenk, a former superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. 'We have things in our history that we are not proud of anymore.' Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, said many Park Service employees are obeying the executive order even though they disagree with it. 'Park staff are in a bind here,' Ms. Brengel said. 'If they don't comply with this directive, they could lose their jobs.' Elizabeth Peace, a spokeswoman for the Interior Department, the parent agency of the Park Service, said the Trump administration's move 'is not about rewriting the past.' 'Interpretive materials that disproportionately emphasize negative aspects of U.S. history or historical figures, without acknowledging broader context or national progress, can unintentionally distort understanding rather than enrich it,' Ms. Peace said in a statement. 'Our goal is to foster honest, respectful storytelling that educates visitors while honoring the complexity of our nation's shared journey.' Several Republican lawmakers have applauded the administration's efforts to purge the federal government of 'woke' initiatives that portray historical events or figures as racist, sexist or otherwise flawed. 'Our monuments should celebrate our founders and tell the story of what makes America great, not push woke talking points to please radical activists,' Senator Jim Banks, Republican of Indiana, said in a statement. Already, the Interior Department has taken down sticky notes that Park Service employees used to annotate an exhibit at Muir Woods National Monument in California. The sticky notes, which park staff added in 2021, were an attempt to present a more comprehensive history of the monument. They highlighted the Indigenous people who originally cared for the land, as well as the role of women in the 1908 creation of Muir Woods. They also argued that while 'influential, philanthropic white men' are frequently credited with preserving the site, problematic aspects of their legacies are often overlooked. For instance, John Muir, the famous naturalist for whom the park is named, used racist language in writings about African Americans and Native Americans. The notes were removed last week pending a review in connection with the executive order, according to Joshua Winchell, a spokesman for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which includes Muir Woods. 'As we implement the order, we will review all signs in the park as well as all the public input we receive about the signs,' Mr. Winchell said in an email. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument St. Augustine, Fla. Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the 'choice' of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.' Agnes Lopez for The New York Times Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, Fla. Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the 'choice' of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.' Agnes Lopez for The New York Times Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, Fla. Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the 'choice' of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.' Agnes Lopez for The New York Times Castillo de San Marcos National Monument St. Augustine, Fla. Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the 'choice' of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.' Agnes Lopez for The New York Times Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, Fla. Excerpted submission from park employee: 'Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation. Language of U.S. Government giving the 'choice' of extinction could be considered negative towards the United States.' Agnes Lopez for The New York Times In addition to reshaping the way the parks present history, the executive order could result in the removal of information about the risks that climate change poses in the present day. At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, for instance, the internal documents show that a Park Service employee asked the Trump administration to review a sign that explains how rising seas are threatening the habitat of wild horses. 'We do not believe it to be in violation, but would like someone to review if messaging of climate change and sea level rise reduces the focus on the grandeur, beauty and abundance,' the employee wrote. As global warming has caused ice sheets and glaciers to melt, water levels around Cape Hatteras have risen by about one foot in the last century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are projected to rise by another 10 to 14 inches by 2050. 'From a scientific perspective, there's no question that a warming planet is generating that long-term sea level rise,' said Robert Young, who directs the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University. 'I guess you could have a discussion as to what degree it is the National Park Service's job to point that out.' But Patrick Gonzalez, who served as principal climate change scientist at the Park Service during Mr. Trump's first term, said that is precisely the agency's job. 'Communicating the science of climate change helps to educate the public on complex scientific issues, and it provides incentives for people to live more sustainably and reduce their carbon pollution,' said Dr. Gonzalez, who is now with the University of California, Berkeley. At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles Tennessee and North Carolina, park officials have also flagged for review a plaque about the harm that air pollution poses to plants and animals. The plaque notes that 'fossil fuel-fired power plants, motor vehicles and industry are the primary sources of these pollutants.' The bulk of the content identified for review in the internal documents addresses the struggle for equality of Black Americans, from slavery to the civil rights movement. 'Text addresses slavery as the primary cause of the American Civil War,' one Park Service official noted of a plaque at the Stones River National Battlefield in Tennessee, the site of one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. 'This is both historically correct and legislatively mandated, but we ask for further review to confirm it is aligned' with the executive order, the official wrote. At Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Louisiana, a park official noted an exhibit about slaves who tried to escape but were captured. The official was concerned because the exhibit identified the enslavers by name and mentioned that returned slaves were publicly whipped. Rolonda Teal, an anthropologist who has studied the Cane River park, said that Congress established it in 1994 to preserve the history of two plantations that housed hundreds of slaves for over 200 years. 'If you don't talk about the names of the slaves, the names of the enslavers, the whipping of the slaves, then you're only telling white history in America,' Dr. Teal said. 'Why would you visit a plantation if you don't want to hear the whole story, and how could it be a plantation if there weren't slaves?' she added. 'So that's the ridiculousness of it all.' On the National Mall in Washington, a sign labeled 'Working Waterfront' describes what had been a 19th century wharf and a landing spot for goods moving along a Potomac River tributary. 'You might hear the shouts of dockworkers, many of them enslaved people until the end of the Civil War,' the sign says. A park employee called attention to it, asking, 'Is the word 'enslaved' OK here?' And at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, also in Washington, a park official raised concerns about books sold at the gift shop, writing, 'Not sure if they're all considered disparaging, but they are about either Malcolm X or Freedom Riders or slavery.' Clayborne Carson, who directed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University and helped design the memorial, said the concerns about the books underscored a longstanding inability to confront racism in America. 'It's sad to see a lot of things I thought would be resolved in the past have kind of come back,' he said, adding, 'I don't know how you can have a better future without looking honestly at the past.' At the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, park employees flagged an exhibit panel that discussed the bell's travels across the country during the post-Reconstruction period. The panel 'calls out the systemic and violent racism and sexism that existed at the time,' employees noted. And at the nearby Independence National Historical Park, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed, park staff raised concerns about an exhibit that memorializes nine slaves whom George Washington had brought from Mount Vernon. One panel emphasizes the intentional brutality of slaveholders, which included whippings, beatings, torture and rape. Independence National Historical Park Philadelphia Excerpted submission from park employee: 'The following panels and illustrations may need revision if found that they are inappropriately disparaging to historical figures ... The artwork depicts Washington's hands in the foreground; one with the Fugitive Slave Act, the other with a quill signing the Act, in the background a posse of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at four black men (one who has been shot in the head) presumably escaping from slavery.' Hannah Beier for The New York Times Independence National Historical Park Philadelphia Excerpted submission from park employee: 'The following panels and illustrations may need revision if found that they are inappropriately disparaging to historical figures ... The artwork depicts Washington's hands in the foreground; one with the Fugitive Slave Act, the other with a quill signing the Act, in the background a posse of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at four black men (one who has been shot in the head) presumably escaping from slavery.' Hannah Beier for The New York Times Independence National Historical Park Philadelphia Excerpted submission from park employee: 'The following panels and illustrations may need revision if found that they are inappropriately disparaging to historical figures ... The artwork depicts Washington's hands in the foreground; one with the Fugitive Slave Act, the other with a quill signing the Act, in the background a posse of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at four black men (one who has been shot in the head) presumably escaping from slavery.' Hannah Beier for The New York Times Independence National Historical Park Philadelphia Excerpted submission from park employee: 'The following panels and illustrations may need revision if found that they are inappropriately disparaging to historical figures ... The artwork depicts Washington's hands in the foreground; one with the Fugitive Slave Act, the other with a quill signing the Act, in the background a posse of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at four black men (one who has been shot in the head) presumably escaping from slavery.' Hannah Beier for The New York Times Independence National Historical Park Philadelphia Excerpted submission from park employee: 'The following panels and illustrations may need revision if found that they are inappropriately disparaging to historical figures ... The artwork depicts Washington's hands in the foreground; one with the Fugitive Slave Act, the other with a quill signing the Act, in the background a posse of white men are depicted with clubs and guns shooting at four black men (one who has been shot in the head) presumably escaping from slavery.' Hannah Beier for The New York Times Other content flagged for review addresses the federal government's fraught relationship with Native American tribes. At San Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Florida, a park employee highlighted a panel on the imprisonment of Plains Indian tribes in the late 19th century. The panel noted that the U.S. Army had sent 74 prisoners from the Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche, Arapaho and Caddo tribes to the fort after the Red River War, which sought to force Native Americans onto reservations. 'Text of panel needs review for language referring to tribes having choice of extinction or assimilation,' the employee wrote. 'Language of U.S. Government giving the 'choice' of extinction could be considered negative toward the United States.' Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, said the president is insisting on a narrow vision of America that he and his followers find most comfortable. 'President Trump is a storyteller and I think he wants a vision of history that he believes matches his understanding of the country,' Dr. Zelizer said. Documents detailing the Park Service's internal communications plans, also reviewed by The Times, instruct agency officials to respond to queries by saying that the Trump administration is focused on 'historical accuracy.'
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
As Spaniards summer at Barcelona's beaches, some worry about the erosion of coastline
Ana García rents a shack at a beach just north of Barcelona every year, spending two months there in the summer with her daughter. But García fears summers by the sea in Montgat, about a 30-minute drive from central Barcelona, eventually could be numbered. Storms and sea level rise driven by climate change are eroding the man-made beaches in metropolitan Barcelona, with the sea swallowing swathes of coastline every year, authorities say. Compared to natural coastlines, man-made beaches erode faster. Montgat's coastline has eroded especially fast, locals and authorities say. 'Clearly, this is worrying,' García said. 'Because it's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger.' From fishing town to summering spot The fishing town turned summering spot is no stranger to change. Fishing was once the main economic activity in the 'Maresme,' or marshlands, north of Barcelona, but everything changed in 1986 when Spain's second-largest city was named host of the 1992 Olympic Games. Where once there were just rocks, breakwaters and thin stretches of sand, several new beaches were constructed, helping turn the city into one of Europe 's premier tourism hotspots. Climate change is threatening that transformation in small coastal towns like Montgat by intensifying storms that erode coastline and driving sea-level rise. While authorities have responded by replacing the lost sand and building some breakwaters, the efforts haven't kept pace with the coastline's erosion. Ramon Torra, manager of Barcelona's Metropolitan Area, acknowledges that simply adding more sand isn't enough. 'What we must do first isn't just replenish the sand, but rather stop the loss of it," Torra said. 'In the case of the 'Maresme' region here, we are talking about structures such as breakwaters because they confine the beach." When storms erode coastline Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. As the planet warms, sea levels rise largely due to the melting of glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater as it grows warmer. That increases the risk of coastal flooding and storm surges that lead to land loss. At Montgat and nearby beaches, the main damage takes place in the fall and winter, when destructive weather systems known locally by the Spanish acronym DANA bring powerful storms to southern Europe. The storms have wreaked havoc on Montgat's coastline in recent years. In April 2024, a storm system brought waves that climbed as high as 5 meters (16 feet) tall and left parts of Montgat virtually without a beach. Afterward, a line of rocks serving as a breakwater was built after the waves reached a line of beachfront houses. Montgat Mayor Andreu Absil reckons only a third of the beach survived from a year ago. He stressed the importance of the beach for locals. 'The beaches are the last democratic space we have,' Absil said. 'And they should be for all of us to use and enjoy all year long." Locals, scientists and business owners worry about the future Barcelona's authorities estimate 60 million euros ($70.2 million) are needed to stabilize the coastline in metropolitan Barcelona's 42 kilometres (26 miles) of coastline, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of which are beaches like Montgat. Add to that the yearly maintenance costs after storms. Scientists say the biggest problem will arrive when the sea reaches the town's infrastructure including the train line, homes and businesses. The rate of sea level rise portends more loss, academics say. Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, a maritime engineer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said current trends show sea levels along the Catalan coast are four times higher today than three decades ago. He said it has risen by 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in 25 years while waves are on average 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) higher. 'So we don't need to predict it will accelerate. We can say already it has multiplied by four since the 1990's,' he said, adding that he believes the time for climate adaptation is now. Those measures include building seawalls, planting vegetation as a barrier to the sea and more. Local business owners in the town depend on summer tourism and worry what could take hold when the sea swallows up more sand. Those who come year after year for the fresh seafood and cold beer share the concern. José Luís Vélez, a retiree, has been coming to the same beach bar for years, having witnessed the changes Montgat underwent after the '92 Olympics, as well as its coastline in retreat. 'It's been great but the sea has started to erode all the sand. And we aren't seeing people really doing something about it. So we think this could have an expiration date," Vélez said. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
As Spaniards summer at Barcelona's beaches, some worry about the erosion of coastline
MONTGAT, Spain (AP) — Ana García rents a shack at a beach just north of Barcelona every year, spending two months there in the summer with her daughter. But García fears summers by the sea in Montgat, about a 30-minute drive from central Barcelona, eventually could be numbered. Storms and sea level rise driven by climate change are eroding the man-made beaches in metropolitan Barcelona, with the sea swallowing swathes of coastline every year, authorities say. Compared to natural coastlines, man-made beaches erode faster. Montgat's coastline has eroded especially fast, locals and authorities say. 'Clearly, this is worrying,' García said. 'Because it's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger.' From fishing town to summering spot The fishing town turned summering spot is no stranger to change. Fishing was once the main economic activity in the 'Maresme,' or marshlands, north of Barcelona, but everything changed in 1986 when Spain's second-largest city was named host of the 1992 Olympic Games. Where once there were just rocks, breakwaters and thin stretches of sand, several new beaches were constructed, helping turn the city into one of Europe's premier tourism hotspots. Climate change is threatening that transformation in small coastal towns like Montgat by intensifying storms that erode coastline and driving sea-level rise. While authorities have responded by replacing the lost sand and building some breakwaters, the efforts haven't kept pace with the coastline's erosion. Ramon Torra, manager of Barcelona's Metropolitan Area, acknowledges that simply adding more sand isn't enough. 'What we must do first isn't just replenish the sand, but rather stop the loss of it,' Torra said. 'In the case of the 'Maresme' region here, we are talking about structures such as breakwaters because they confine the beach.' When storms erode coastline Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. As the planet warms, sea levels rise largely due to the melting of glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater as it grows warmer. That increases the risk of coastal flooding and storm surges that lead to land loss. At Montgat and nearby beaches, the main damage takes place in the fall and winter, when destructive weather systems known locally by the Spanish acronym DANA bring powerful storms to southern Europe. The storms have wreaked havoc on Montgat's coastline in recent years. In April 2024, a storm system brought waves that climbed as high as 5 meters (16 feet) tall and left parts of Montgat virtually without a beach. Afterward, a line of rocks serving as a breakwater was built after the waves reached a line of beachfront houses. Montgat Mayor Andreu Absil reckons only a third of the beach survived from a year ago. He stressed the importance of the beach for locals. 'The beaches are the last democratic space we have,' Absil said. 'And they should be for all of us to use and enjoy all year long.' Locals, scientists and business owners worry about the future Barcelona's authorities estimate 60 million euros ($70.2 million) are needed to stabilize the coastline in metropolitan Barcelona's 42 kilometres (26 miles) of coastline, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of which are beaches like Montgat. Add to that the yearly maintenance costs after storms. Scientists say the biggest problem will arrive when the sea reaches the town's infrastructure including the train line, homes and businesses. The rate of sea level rise portends more loss, academics say. Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, a maritime engineer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said current trends show sea levels along the Catalan coast are four times higher today than three decades ago. He said it has risen by 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in 25 years while waves are on average 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) higher. 'So we don't need to predict it will accelerate. We can say already it has multiplied by four since the 1990's,' he said, adding that he believes the time for climate adaptation is now. Those measures include building seawalls, planting vegetation as a barrier to the sea and more. Local business owners in the town depend on summer tourism and worry what could take hold when the sea swallows up more sand. Those who come year after year for the fresh seafood and cold beer share the concern. José Luís Vélez, a retiree, has been coming to the same beach bar for years, having witnessed the changes Montgat underwent after the '92 Olympics, as well as its coastline in retreat. 'It's been great but the sea has started to erode all the sand. And we aren't seeing people really doing something about it. So we think this could have an expiration date,' Vélez said. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid.
