However, many coastal communities are still not sufficiently adapted to today’s ESLs. storm surges, tropical cyclones), coastal erosion and salinisation). Measures are being taken to address coastal hazards exacerbated by rising sea level, such as coastal flooding due to extreme events (e.g. Many coastal communities have started to consider the implications of SLR. Sustainable development aspirations are at risk because many people, assets and vital resources are concentrated along low-lying coasts around the world. Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) is rising and it will continue to do so for centuries. Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would not just reduce risks, but also open up more adaptation options. Choices made today influence how coastal ecosystems and communities can respond to sea level rise (SLR) in the future. However, all measures have their limits, and once these are reached people may ultimately have to retreat. Communities can also adjust by reclaiming land from the sea and adapting buildings to cope with floods. Protection can be achieved by building dikes or seawalls and by maintaining natural features like mangroves or coral reefs. Andrew Mackintosh (Australia, New Zealand)įAQ 4.1: What challenges does the inevitability of sea level rise present to coastal communities and how can communities adapt?Īs the global climate changes, rising sea levels, combined with high tides, storms and flooding, put coastal and island communities increasingly at risk.Ricardo Safra de Campos (United Kingdom).

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