Sea Levels Rising in Cyprus, Putting Half of the Coastline at Risk, Scientists Warn

According to a report by Cyprus Mail, Stavros Malas, President of the Cyprus Institute, made the remarks during an international conference on natural resource management held in South Nicosia.

Malas warned that climate change would trigger a deepening crisis in the eastern Mediterranean, stating that without immediate action, half of Cyprus’s beaches could be lost. He highlighted that the Levant region is expected to face severe coastal erosion alongside average temperature increases of between three and five degrees Celsius, more frequent prolonged heatwaves, and heavier episodes of extreme rainfall.

He stressed that Cyprus’s geographical location makes it particularly vulnerable to climate impacts and called for a rapid shift from strategic planning to concrete implementation.

In her opening address at the same conference, Antonia Theodosiu, Environment Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, underlined that while strategies for managing natural resources are important, the key challenge lies in their execution.

Theodosiu emphasized the need for a credible regional framework supported by political will, clear objectives, cross-sector cooperation and coordinated financing mechanisms.

The conference, hosted by the Cyprus Institute, brought together governments, scientists, international organizations and financial institutions with the aim of strengthening climate resilience across the Mediterranean region.