Ancona, August 27, 2026 – Goodbye to the beaches in fifty years: beach resorts, commercial activities, houses, and even the railway are at risk. The concern expressed by Prof. Pierpaolo Falco (professor at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences of the Politecnica delle Marche) about the “risk of a strong reduction of beaches if the sea level rises at current rates (three millimeters per year, about three centimeters per decade)” is confirmed by the Region’s climate change adaptation plan, approved by the Regional Council in February 2025: Marche is the first region to have approved such a plan.
Marche and Liguria the most at-risk regions
The document states (verbatim) that “the sea level rise and the increase in extreme weather events are the two processes that most affect coastal erosion.” This is confirmed by Giorgio Filomena, official of the Environment and Water Resources Directorate of the Region. “If the average sea level rises, we lose the beaches: sandy and less steep ones are at greater risk – he says –. And anyway, having built beach resorts, roads, houses, and railway right on the coast, we are much more vulnerable because the only element separating us from the sea is the beach. It is no coincidence that the two regions most exposed to erosion risk are Marche and Liguria.”
The most at-risk cities
In the scenario outlined in the regional plan for the next fifty years (horizon 2070), among the cities that could face the most problems are Senigallia and Pesaro. Regarding Senigallia, simulations hypothesize storm surges that affect not only the beach resorts but also the seafront roads and much of the port area. In Pesaro, the outlined scenario is even worse, with floods affecting the entire east pier, including houses, much of the commercial port and the pier north of the port area, as well as the premises built on these structures.
Filomena also recalls that “Pesaro, a few years ago, already experienced sea intrusion of about 100 to 150 meters and in the future, under certain conditions (strong easterly storm surge, maximum astronomical tide, wind blowing inland, and low atmospheric pressure), the sea could reach 400 to 500 meters beyond the coastline.” “Conditions observed on February 4 and 5 of this year in Porto Recanati, where a flash flood occurred – he adds –: no one noticed because it happened at night and the sea did not invade the town center, but agricultural fields.”
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Among other coastal cities at risk of marine flooding, Filomena also includes Porto San Giorgio and the northern area of San Benedetto. In the climate change adaptation plan, the Region warns that “various scenarios, and in particular sea level rise, must be considered in the design of new works.” Also, in implementation of a European directive, “areas subject to flooding along the entire coastline must be delineated,” as well as “specific stretches considered critical must be identified to better calibrate mitigation and adaptation actions to this impact.”
Based on the cost-benefit analysis, the regional plan suggests “relocating elements at risk of marine flooding, entrusting municipalities with initiating the program.” “The cost-benefit analysis – writes the Region – must become a guiding tool in the case of new concessions and funding for infrastructure in coastal areas subject to erosion and extreme weather events.” “In reality, it is difficult to defend against the sea – admits Filomena – and if the Adriatic level rises, the effectiveness of breakwaters, which everyone calls for, also decreases. We certainly cannot build Mose everywhere.”
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