African cities are dealing with a growing environmental crisis as their coastal areas, especially low-lying regions, are being worn away by the sea. Experts say that if no urgent action is taken, many of these cities could face serious flooding or might even vanish by the year 2100.
Picture waking up one day to see your hometown slowly sinking into the ocean. While it might seem like something from a movie, this could actually happen in parts of Africa by the end of this century, as reported by the World Economic Forum.
Rising sea levels, caused by climate change, are gradually threatening coastal cities, putting millions of people in danger of losing their homes, jobs, and daily lives.
Coastal areas in Africa are especially at risk because of several reasons: fast-growing cities, poor infrastructure, and more frequent climate-related disasters such as floods and powerful storms.
Scientists caution that if global temperatures keep increasing at the current rate, large portions of land could be taken over by the sea. This would force many communities to leave their homes and lead to huge economic damage.
The big question is whether these cities can be saved in time. Governments and environmental organizations are trying to address the problem by building seawalls, improving drainage systems, and restoring mangroves. However, the task is still incredibly difficult.
Below are the African cities that could disappear by 2100 according to the World Economic Forum:
Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic center and Africa’s most crowded city, is facing a worsening environmental crisis as its low-lying coastal areas are being steadily worn away by the sea.
The steady advance of the Atlantic Ocean, made worse by rising sea levels caused by climate change, is a major danger to millions of people, important infrastructure, and economic activities in Lagos.
A study by the University of Plymouth warned that if sea levels rise by three to nine feet, it could have a “devastating impact on human life.” This could lead to large-scale displacement, loss of jobs, and serious harm to infrastructure along the coast.
Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria, the ancient city established by Alexander the Great, is under serious threat as its beaches disappear because of rising sea levels.
The UN Climate Panel (IPCC) has predicted a grim future: by 2050, sea levels could rise by one meter. This would submerge a third of the highly fertile land in the Nile Delta and flood historic cities like Alexandria.
Each year, the historic city founded by Alexander the Great sinks by three millimeters. This is partly due to dams built along the Nile River, which stop silt from strengthening the land, and partly because of offshore gas drilling. According to NPR, by the year 2100, the Mediterranean Sea could rise by up to two feet, increasing the risk of devastating floods in Alexandria.
The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources has warned that hundreds of people have already been forced to abandon their homes due to flooding in 2015 and 2020, which damaged buildings. These individuals are just the beginning, as many more may face similar displacement in the future.