Climate crisis is coming to crush many of world’s best surf breaks, study warns
A new study warns that climate change, rising sea levels, and coastal development threaten to destroy many of the world's most iconic surf breaks. Researchers found that over 75% of studied surf reserves are at high risk, which could significantly impact local economies dependent on surf tourism.
Why it matters
The loss of these natural assets threatens both biodiversity and the multibillion-dollar global surf economy.
A surfer rides a tube at Oriente-Salvaje, El Salvador, one of the most at-risk surf breaks in the study. Photograph: Angelo Picardo A surfer rides a tube at Oriente-Salvaje, El Salvador, one of the most at-risk surf breaks in the study. Photograph: Angelo Picardo Coastlines Climate crisis is coming to crush many of world’s best surf breaks, study warns Changing tide levels, shifting sands and hardened shorelines put waves at risk, affecting more than just surfers
Prefer the Guardian on Google The climate crisis is coming for some of the world’s greatest surf breaks, submerging some as sea level rises and wiping out others as classic breaks get crushed against coastal developments.
Analysis of dozens of famous waves in world surfing reserves (WSR) found more than three-quarters were at high risk because of changing tide levels, hardened shorelines and shifting sands.
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