Nature Cities publication on climate change adaption in coastal cities

Enlarge

Coastal cities are important places for economic growth and innovation. At the same time, they are highly affected by climate change (e.g. rising sea level, flooding, tropical cyclones), resulting in an urgent need for substantial adaptation.

Wannewitz et al. systematically assessed the academic literature to evaluate whether and to what extent coastal cities are on track to prepare for climate risks. A total of 199 coastal cities in 54 countries were included in the analysis.

The results show that most adaptation measures are inadequate in their depth, scope and speed — regardless of the region or its prosperity. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors such as future trends in societal vulnerability or spatial growth and exposure are rarely considered. And research continues to focus on coastal cities in the global North.

For more information click here.