Catherine Moncrieff, Policy & Engagement Manager, CIWEM, describes the unique challenges coastal regions face due to human activities and the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change
Coastal regions face distinct challenges due to human activities and the interconnected crises of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Coastal zones are often densely populated, host diverse ecosystems, and support essential infrastructure. However, these areas are under increasing stress from pollution, overdevelopment, and climate impacts, which include rising sea levels and intensifying storms. These challenges combine to exacerbate coastal erosion, as highlighted in CIWEM’s ‘Postcards from the Edge’ report, which highlights the need for adaptive and resilient coastal management.
Pollution and erosion
Pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and urban areas severely impacts coastal water quality. According to the Environment Agency, less than a fifth of the UK’s estuaries are at good ecological status. Runoff from agriculture introduces fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels, endangering marine life. The discharge of sewage into coastal waters also contributes to algal blooms, and introduces toxins and pathogens, further threatening ecosystems and human health. Plastic pollution pervades coastal areas and will be compounded by legacy coastal landfills crumbling into the sea as coasts erode.
Biodiversity loss
The degradation of global coastal habitats, such as mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs, leads to significant biodiversity loss. Along the UK’s coast, approximately 85% of salt marshes, 92% of seagrass habitats, and 95% of oyster reefs have been lost since the mid-1800s. (1) These habitats, as well as being important carbon stores, are natural climate buffers, reducing wave energy and trapping sediments, thereby protecting shorelines from erosion. Overfishing, coastal development, and pollution disrupt these habitats, diminishing their ability to support diverse marine life and protect coastlines.
As these natural buffers decline, coastal areas become more vulnerable to storms and sea-level rise, necessitating more intensive management and investment in artificial defences.
Climate change impacts
The EU Climate Change Service reported in February this year that the world had surpassed 1.5 degrees of warming for the first time for a whole year. Climate change compounds existing pressures through increased sea temperatures, sea-level rise, and altered wave and storm patterns.
Rising sea levels threaten to submerge low-lying areas, while more frequent storms accelerate the erosion of beaches and cliffs. According to a UN report on the current and future impacts of sea level rise, since the start of the 20th century, the global mean sea level has risen faster than over any prior century in at least the last 3,000 years, and the rate of increase is accelerating. Furthermore, by 2100, up to 410 million people could be at risk of coastal flooding as the climate crisis causes sea levels to rise even further.
Essential infrastructure in coastal areas, from homes and roads to ports and energy systems, faces increasing risks of damage and degradation.
More honest conversations with coastal communities and planners need to be had about the coast’s future, the inevitability of change, and the need to adapt. This must include recognition that climate change is advancing fast, translating into increased rates of erosion, storminess, and coastal squeeze.
Challenges of coastal adaptation
Human development along coastlines, including housing and critical infrastructure, complicates adaptation efforts. Many coastal areas rely on hard defences, such as seawalls, which can disrupt the natural sediment supply along the shoreline and worsen erosion in adjacent areas. In other places, they have squeezed intertidal habitats, such as salt marshes.
We need to shift from traditional hard defences to adaptive strategies that allow some stretches of coast to evolve naturally. However, current UK policies and funding models are insufficient for adaptive strategies centred on human and ecological interests.
Recommendations for sustainable coastal management
Our report highlights ten key recommendations, including an overarching Coastal Policy Statement that provides a national vision and strong steer on coastal adaptation, with cross-party support so it doesn’t become a political hot potato. We propose strengthening the statutory power of Shoreline Management Plans and instigating funding mechanisms that ensure adaptation has a more equal footing with traditional defences. These strategies aim to facilitate a shift to more flexible, ecosystem-based solutions, with strong engagement of communities in planning. Such measures are essential to balance human activities with the protection of coastal biodiversity, ensuring resilience against future environmental pressures.
Coastal regions are at the intersection of natural beauty, biodiversity, and human development. Addressing their complex challenges requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges the interdependency of pollution control, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
