Study Finds Nearly a Quarter of World’s Coastlines Are Eroding Rapidly

A study published in Nature, titled The State of the World’s Beaches, reports that 24% of the world’s coastlines are experiencing erosion at rates greater than 0.5 meters per year.

Historically, coastal zones have been among the most densely populated and heavily developed areas on Earth; however, today the future of many beaches is in jeopardy.

Data collected over 33 years (1984–2016) by researchers from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands show that 7% of sandy beaches worldwide are experiencing severe erosion.

If these trends continue, and rising sea levels persist, the lives of 70 million people living in coastal regions could be at increased risk of flooding, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).