Climate change, rising sea level threaten Egypt’s Alexandria

During the inauguration speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) held in the Scottish city of Glasgow from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the Egyptian city of Alexandria, which is one of the cities threatened to disappear under rising seas should the earth temperature rise by 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit), unless the climate changes are addressed.

Johnson's statements on Alexandria received wide media coverage in Egypt and a great deal of interest from Egyptians, especially on social media, where many online users expressed their fears, urging the government to take proactive steps to confront climate change. Others seem to be skeptical of Johnson’s warnings, deeming them as pessimistic of the future.

Alexandria governorate is located on the Mediterranean coast in northern Egypt and Alexandria is considered the country’s second capital. It was founded by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. and named after him. The city’s area is estimated at 2,679 square kilometers (1,034 square miles), with a population of more than 5 million people.

Alexandria is home to many distinctive landmarks, including the Alexandria Port, the largest in Egypt, handling about 80% of the country’s imports and exports, and the Great Library of Alexandria, which includes over 8 million books, in addition to several museums and archaeological sites such as the Citadel of Qaitbay, Pompey's Pillar, among other landmarks.