Managing the coast in a changing climate

This report is the first in a series by the UK Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) looking at different aspects of the need to adapt to long-term impacts caused by the changing climate. The report, focussed on the English coastline, aims to investigate the extent to which responses to coastal change threats are in line with the current level of risk and future changes from climate change, and whether long-term outcomes and plans for the coast need to be revisited. In that context, this report:

• Investigates what assets are likely to be at risk from flooding and coastal erosion in the present day and in the future;
• Reviews the policy framework for managing coastal flood and erosion risk in England and assesses the effectiveness of the implementation of those policies;
• Performs a national cost-benefit analysis of the Shoreline Management Plans policy decisions;
• Discusses the management of coastal 'crises' that remain an issue despite current planning practices; and
• Considers how long-term planning for the coast could be improved where limitations of current approaches are identified, particularly in relation to 'crises'.