If the current rates of greenhouse gas emissions continue and we do not take timely measures, sea level rise is expected to destroy around 50% of Cyprus' beaches in the next 50 years, Giorgos Zittis, a scientific researcher at the Cyprus Institute, told KYPE. at the Center of Excellence for Climate and Atmospheric Research.
Dr. Zittis pointed out that climate change, unlike other parts of the world, makes Cyprus hotter and drier, with multiple effects on nature, human health, the economy. He also noted that even if we were to stop gas emissions today, the temperature is expected to continue to rise in the next 20-30 years and therefore adaptation measures should be taken to the new conditions.
"Cyprus and the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is also a hot spot of climate change, are mainly affected by increasingly higher temperatures, especially in the summer season," he said, noting that in other regions of the world, for example in the northernmost regions of Europe, this increase is mainly observed in winter.
This, he said, increases the impact, as we are in a particularly warm region. These effects are related to the increased demand for energy, for example for air conditioning, while we see effects on agricultural production, on crops, but also on human health. "We have recently also had two deaths from heatstroke," he said. In addition, he added that forest fires are also affected by the increased summer temperatures.
Another characteristic of our region, he said, along with the increase in temperature, is the decrease in precipitation. "Although the trends are not as clear as for temperature, we are moving towards drier climate averages," he said, noting that at more northern latitudes climate change is contributing to an increase in precipitation.
In response to a question about the effects of a possible rise in the sea level, Dr. Zittis noted that in Cyprus most infrastructure, airports, ports, power plants are located near the sea. Also, most of the tourist activity is on the beaches. "We think they will be affected by sea level rise," he said.
He added that if we take a pessimistic scenario, for example that we continue to emit greenhouse gases at current rates and do not take timely measures, "sea level rise is expected to destroy around 50% of Cyprus' beaches", clarifying that the forecasts for the next 50 years.
Asked whether the situation is reversible if action is taken, he said the action to be taken must be in the short term, "that is, in the next decade to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions so much that we limit this temperature rise and sea level rise'.
Nevertheless, he underlined, "the concentration is such that even today if we completely stop emitting greenhouse gases, for the next 2-3 decades the temperature will continue to rise". Therefore, he said, some measures should also be taken to adapt to these increasingly hot and drier conditions.
These measures could include a more rational use of water resources, more energy efficient buildings, air conditioning, such as the debate now taking place for schools, more resistant crops in hotter and drier conditions, and even changing our tourism model , "as our summers may be too hot even for tourists and therefore we will have to see if any opportunities arise for the slightly cooler times of the year," he noted.
When asked if the measures taken by Cyprus to limit greenhouse gas emissions are sufficient, he said that Cyprus, as a member state of the EU, must harmonize with the objectives that exist at the European level, which, as he said, they are also quite ambitious. "We are a little behind, there is room for improvement, for example in electricity generation, these efforts can be intensified", he concluded.
Source: KYPE