Around 40 percent of the world’s population live within 100 kilometres of the coast. Coastal communities often have significant economic and social importance due to the maritime and shipping trade, tourism, fishing industries and coastal real estate. However, coastal regions are among the most vulnerable locations to the impacts of climate change.
Climate change presents multiple challenges to coastal developments including rising sea levels, increased risk of coastal erosion and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Addressing these challenges through integrated adaptive planning will help to protect the social and economic value of coastal developments. Integrated adaptive planning and design is a strategic process that addresses the challenges of climate change through a comprehensive systems-based approach. It involves the development of adaptive solutions that can be implemented at various levels, including large-scale coastal cells, subdivided sub-cells, and individual property defences. Integrated adaptive planning requires collaboration among governments, landowners, businesses, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
Coastal environments are dynamic. Coastlines are naturally changing. Therefore, when managing coastal regions, there are options to resist change or to allow the coast to develop. Even when coastal defences are constructed to resist change, change can occur in adjacent areas as a result of the coastal defences. Therefore, an understanding of the site-specific conditions is vital when exploring the various potential strategies and selecting the best option to build resilience.
Several overarching objectives can guide the decision-making process toward sustainable coastal development.
