ROME, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- About one-fifth of Italy's beaches could be submerged by 2050 due to rising sea levels driven by global warming, according to a report released Tuesday by the Italian Geographic Society.
The study, titled "Sunken Landscapes," offers an overall assessment of how global warming and related climate factors are expected to reshape Italy's coastline. It was presented during a conference in Rome.
Italy's coastline spans roughly 8,300 km, encompassing natural shorelines, river mouths, ports, and artificial reinforcements. The report warns that at least 20 percent of this stretch is at risk of submersion by mid-century because of sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding. In a worst-case scenario, if no effective mitigation measures are taken, up to 40 percent of Italy's shores could be underwater by 2100.
Researchers identified several high-risk zones, including the Adriatic coast, home to popular destinations such as the Gargano Peninsula in Apulia, and extensive sections of the Tyrrhenian coast in Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania. Coastal areas near Cagliari and Oristano in Sardinia are also deemed highly vulnerable.
Amphibious regions such as the Po River Delta in northern Italy and the Venice Lagoon face the greatest threats, along with numerous ports, airports, and agricultural areas located near the sea.
The report emphasizes that Italy's heavily urbanized coastline, about 10 percent of which is covered by permanent infrastructure, has become increasingly fragile. "The Italian coast has undergone a profound transformation, turning into a vulnerable landscape with serious environmental and social implications," the report said. ■