Podgorica, (MINA) – According to projections, the level of the Adriatic Sea will rise by 35 cm by the end of the century, posing the threat to the coastal areas, especially the area of Ada Bojana and parts of the Bay of Kotor, the Draft National Plan of Montenegro for adaptation to climate change has demonstrated.
This document underscores that beaches and habitats on low-lying parts of the coast are vulnerable to coastal flooding, rising sea level and the risk of disappearance.
The climate change impact thus extends to tourism infrastructure and housing, leading to the loss of economic assets such as restaurants, accommodation facilities and beaches.
“Functionality of vital infrastructure such as ports, marinas and shipyards is also under threat, which subsequently reduces the overall tourist attraction of coastal regions”, the document stated.
Projections indicate that the most threatened areas are Ulcinj (especially Ada Bojana), Bar, Tivat and parts of the Bay of Kotor.
Mirjana Ivanov of the Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology told the MINA News Agency that the data indicate that an increase of 69 cm to 96 cm can be expected during severe weather events.
Ivanovic said that the analysis of the strength and scope of the impact of storms shows that they are expected to increase due to global warming.
She remarked that the consequences of climate change are also felt when it comes to sea temperature, adding that in the period from 1980 to 2023, the average annual temperature of the sea surface increased by a total of 1.7 degrees C, while for the period from 2071 to 2100, a further increase in annual sea surface temperature of 2.5 to 3.5 degrees C is expected.