Coastal areas provide a wide variety of goods and services for communities, including protection of the shoreline, carbon sequestration, fisheries habitat, and are a magnet for tourism. It is estimated that over 40 per cent of the global population lives within 100 km of the coast, and this trend is expected to rise.
However, these areas are exposed to rising sea levels, increased storm intensity and frequency, and elevated temperatures due to the influence of both terrestrial and oceanic processes which makes them especially dynamic and sensitive to climatic changes. This results in floods, infrastructure damage, and erosion, unless actions are taken to increase climate resilience in coastal areas.
Coastal erosion resulting in shoreline shrinkage is estimated to average 0.5 and 2 meters per year and the damage caused by the processes of coastline regression and floodings is expected to increase further because of climate change. According to the IPCC, under current emissions trajectories—a "business-as-usual" scenario—, a 1-meter sea level rise could displace over 180 million people by 2100 and force communities to move inland, restraining the space for human activities and generating alterations in coastal ecosystems. Likewise, buildings very close to the coast could be affected by wave action, which could undermine their foundations.
In order to strengthen the resilience of coastal zone areas, it is necessary to have close coordination between public and private sector actors, build consensus and local ownership of plans, policies and strategies to achieve an integrated coastal zone management. Indeed building coastal resilience is about creating plans and building infrastructure that mitigates damage, allows for a quick response to disasters, and ensures that practical tools are available for rapid recovery. Furthermore, the conservation or restoration of habitats such as mangroves or wetlands can provide effective protection against storms, saline intrusion, and coastal erosion.
The NDC Action project supports partner countries to develop and implement plans, strategies, and solutions to implement saline water purification for coastal household consumption, utilize nature-based solutions to protect the coastal areas, and build low-cost durable housing for coastal communities. With more than half of Asia’s population at approximately 2.4 billion people living in low-lying coastal zones and flood plains, enhancing coastal resilience is an important means to prepare for uncertain future changes, while maintaining opportunities for coastal development.
