Southern California faces significant coastal challenges in the coming decades as rising sea levels and increased wave activity threaten the region’s beaches and low-lying areas, according to California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment. The state-commissioned report warns that 30% to 70% of Southern California’s beaches could disappear by 2100, with nearly half of beach cliffs expected to retreat between 30 to 80 feet.

The assessment projects a sea-level rise of approximately 1.6 feet by 2060, placing areas such as the ports and the beaches of Santa Monica, Venice, and Redondo at heightened risk of flooding and storm damage. In Los Angeles County alone, an estimated 15,000 residents could be exposed to increased flood hazards as a result.

The report also highlights broader climate trends for California, forecasting an average temperature increase of 4 degrees Fahrenheit statewide along with heat waves that are expected to last 50% longer by mid-century. More severe warming is anticipated in inland areas where temperatures are already elevated.

Abby Edwards, senior deputy director at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, which oversaw the assessment, described the findings as difficult but necessary to confront. She emphasized the importance of using the report as a catalyst to intensify climate mitigation efforts across the state.

California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment is part of a recurring series that evaluates diverse impacts of climate change across the state, addressing effects on public health, wildlife habitats, and economic sectors among others. This latest edition underscores the pressing need for targeted adaptation and mitigation strategies to safeguard Southern California’s coastal environment and communities as climate risks escalate.