Imagine losing the ocean view, the sensation of sandy beaches under your feet, and the tranquility of the seaside. It may sound exaggerated, but this is indeed happening in various coastal regions of Brazil.

Over the past 30 years, Brazil has lost approximately 15% of its beach area, according to scientific research. This means that for every 100 meters of beach, 15 meters have disappeared.

What is causing this situation? Coastal erosion - a natural process that is being exacerbated by human activities and climate change.

How does the ocean swallow beaches?

The formation of beaches relies on a balance of the ocean taking away and returning sand. Waves carry suspended sand particles in the water and deposit them at the shore, forming sandbanks. Even though some sand is carried back to the sea, this cycle is typically stable. However, when too many buildings are constructed along the coastline, this balance is disrupted.

High-rise buildings, walkways, and artificial structures too close to the shoreline hinder the formation of sandbanks. Losing this "natural reservoir" deprives beaches of the chance to self-recover - the sand strip keeps diminishing. A typical case is Atafona along the coast of Rio de Janeiro. This city has had entire streets submerged by seawater and is listed by the United Nations as one of the 31 globally most threatened areas by rising sea levels.

From 1990 to 2020, the sea level in the region rose by 13 centimeters; according to data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is projected to rise by another 21 centimeters by 2050.

However, Atafona is not the only case. Multiple beaches in Brazil are shrinking, and this phenomenon is repeating in several coastal regions in the north, northeast, and southeast.