elpais.com
Alexandria's Sinking Crisis: Climate Change and Building Collapses
Alexandria, Egypt, is sinking due to climate change and tectonic activity, causing coastal erosion and building collapses; over 280 buildings collapsed from 2001-2021, and 43 more from 2023-2025, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation.
- What are the immediate impacts of climate change and coastal erosion on Alexandria's infrastructure and population?
- Alexandria, Egypt's most populous Mediterranean city, is sinking and experiencing increased coastal erosion due to climate change and tectonic activity. Over 280 buildings collapsed between 2001 and 2021, and this trend is accelerating, with 43 more collapses between 2023 and 2025 resulting in casualties. About 40% of Alexandria's buildings are within one kilometer of the sea, putting thousands at risk.
- How do the conflicting results of studies on sea-level rise affect public perception and the urgency of addressing the problem in Alexandria?
- The city's location on the Nile delta, between a lake and the sea, creates a dangerous situation. While the Mediterranean's level rises annually by 1.5 mm and Alexandria sinks by 1-1.5 mm, coastal erosion averaged 3.64 meters annually from 2001-2021. This, combined with increasing saline groundwater, weakens building foundations, leading to collapses.
- What long-term strategies, combining hard and soft engineering solutions, are necessary to mitigate the risks and ensure Alexandria's resilience to climate change?
- Alexandria faces a complex challenge requiring a multifaceted approach. While hard solutions like seawalls are employed, softer approaches like beach nourishment and green infrastructure are needed, alongside improved urban planning and citizen involvement. Failure to address these issues will result in continued building collapses and displacement.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the severity of the situation and the potential for catastrophic consequences if action isn't taken. While accurate, this framing might create unnecessary alarm without offering a balanced perspective of existing mitigation efforts or community resilience. The repeated use of phrases like "collapse" and "derrumbarse" (Spanish for collapse) contributes to this alarmist tone.
Language Bias
The language is generally neutral but the repeated use of strong words like "collapse", "catastrophic", and "crisis" contributes to a negative and alarmist tone. More neutral alternatives could be used to convey the urgency while avoiding sensationalism. For example, instead of 'collapse,' 'significant structural damage' could be used.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the impacts of climate change and coastal erosion on Alexandria, but it could benefit from including perspectives from local residents beyond the quotes from researchers and officials. It also doesn't deeply explore potential economic impacts of the city's decline or the political implications of government responses (or lack thereof).
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the severe impact of climate change on Alexandria, including rising sea levels, increased storms, and coastal erosion. These factors are causing significant damage to infrastructure, leading to building collapses and displacement. The experts quoted directly link these issues to climate change and warn of escalating consequences without mitigation.