Climate change has it in for the world’s best surfing

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on Wired or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Climate change and coastal development are threatening some of the world’s most celebrated surf breaks
• A study published in Climatic Change, drawing on local experts’ assessments of 57 surf breaks across eight countries, found that more than three-quarters faced high risk from changing tide levels, hardened shorelines and shifting sands

🔭 The context: Surf breaks depend on a delicate combination of seafloor shape, swell direction, tides and sediment movement
• Rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns can disrupt these conditions, while sea walls, jetties and groynes may prevent beaches from naturally adapting
• At-risk locations include Croyde Beach in the UK, Noosa in Australia and reefs around Santa Cruz, California

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Natural coastlines can adapt to changing conditions by shifting inland and redistributing sediment, helping beaches and surf breaks remain resilient
• Beyond the loss of surfing opportunities, degradation threatens coastal ecosystems, local cultures and tourism-dependent economies that rely on these places

⏭️ What’s next: Researchers suggest that local surfers’ knowledge could help identify changes early and inform conservation efforts
• Protecting natural shoreline processes and reconsidering coastal development may help preserve vulnerable surf breaks, although thousands of other waves worldwide could face similar pressures

💬 One quote: “Climate change will impact surf breaks all over the world in different ways, depending on their unique geographies,” - Trent Hodges, coauthor of the study and senior programs manager at the Save the Waves Coalition

📈 One stat: More than 75% — the share of assessed World Surfing Reserve surf breaks found to face high risk from changing tides, hardened shorelines and shifting sands

Subscribe to our free newsletters to never miss a beat in sustainability.

The world needs sustainability knowledge. At illuminem, no interest group or shareholder can influence our work. Thank you for supporting our mission to make high-quality and independent sustainability information free for all. Every contribution helps. Thank you for donating today.