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- Without adaptations, the consequences of global warming
and sea-level rise would be disastrous.
- Coastal adaptation entails more than just selecting
one of the technical options to respond to sea-level rise
(strategies can aim to protect, accommodate, or retreat).
It is a complex and iterative process rather than a simple
choice.
- Adaptation options are more acceptable and effective
when they are incorporated into coastal zone management,
disaster mitigation programs, land-use planning, and sustainable
development strategies.
- Adaptation choices will be conditioned by existing
policies and development objectives, requiring researchers
and policymakers to work toward a commonly acceptable framework
for adaptation.
- The adaptive capacity of coastal systems to perturbations
is related to coastal resilience, which has morphological,
ecological, and socioeconomic components. Enhancing resilience
-- including the technical, institutional, economic, and
cultural capability to cope with impacts -- is a particularly
appropriate adaptive strategy given future uncertainties
and the desire to maintain development opportunities.
- Coastal communities and marine-based economic sectors
with low exposure or high adaptive capacity will be least
affected. Communities with lower economic resources, poorer
infrastructure, less-developed communications and transportation
systems, and weak social support systems have less access
to adaptation options and are more vulnerable. |
