Young Alexandrians are witnessing rising seas, coastal erosion, and stronger storms firsthand. Through Greenish Clubs and YouthCARE4Planet, students are turning curiosity into climate action, connecting local experiences to global challenges.
This article is part of a series of stories that explore environmental challenges and youth initiatives in each country and region participating in YouthCARE4planet project in the Mediterranean.
On a windy afternoon along the Alexandria coastline, a major port city located in northern Egypt on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea (learn more), a group of young people stood facing the sea. Some were taking photos, while others discussed what they were observing: piles of plastic near the shore, parts of the beach slowly disappearing, and waves reaching areas where they used to play as children.
For many of them, it was the first time they were seeing their city through an environmental lens.
Alexandria has always been known as the Mediterranean jewel of Egypt, a city shaped by the sea, its history, and its vibrant streets. But today, the relationship between the city and the sea is changing. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and stronger winter storms have become part of everyday conversations. In some neighborhoods, flooding during storms has become a familiar sight. According to IPCC projections (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the international scientific body that assesses and synthesizes knowledge on climate change, its impacts, and solutions), a 50 cm rise in sea level could displace 2 to 4 million Egyptians from their coastal areas by 2050 (ipcc-data.climate.columbia.edu).
These changes are not just statistics in climate reports. They are realities that young people in Alexandria are beginning to notice in their daily lives.
Through the Greenish Clubs, students and young volunteers explore these environmental challenges in a different way by stepping outside classrooms and engaging directly with their surroundings. Walks along the coastline, conversations with community members, and discussions about environmental issues have become part of their learning journey. More than 1,500 students have joined these clubs to develop projects and propose creative solutions to environmental challenges.
What begins as curiosity often turns into deeper reflection. While walking along the shore, one participant might notice how much the coastline has changed compared to a few years ago. Another might discuss how flooding affects transportation during winter storms. Gradually, these local observations connect their experiences to the global conversation on climate change.
For many young participants, this journey also sparked a growing interest in climate action. During the global momentum around the COP24, the 24th Conference of the Parties on climate organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (December 2018, Katowice, Poland), youth involved in environmental activities in Egypt showed remarkable enthusiasm to learn more about climate negotiations, climate justice, and how young voices can contribute to finding solutions (WWF France – COP24).
Discussions within youth clubs were no longer limited to environmental awareness; they became spaces to imagine possibilities. What can young people do to protect their coastal city? How can communities become more resilient to climate risks? And how can youth voices contribute to larger climate conversations?
Programs like Greenish Clubs and the YouthCARE4Planet – Youth Climate Action for Planet project create something powerful: a space where curiosity turns into engagement. By exploring real environmental challenges in their own communities, young people begin to understand that climate change is not only a global issue discussed at international conferences. It is also about the places they love and the future of their cities.
Alexandria may be on the frontline of climate impacts in the Mediterranean, but it is also home to a generation of young people eager to learn, observe, and take part in protecting their environment.
Sometimes, it all begins with a simple moment: standing by the sea, asking questions, and seeing your city in a new way.
Last Update
13/03/2026
Next Med