Prioritization of climate change mitigation strategies for coastal regions using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

This study utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize climate change mitigation strategies for coastal regions systematically. The AHP, a robust data-driven decision-making framework, was employed to evaluate five strategies: Mangrove Restoration, Zoning and Building Codes, Seawalls, Coral Reef Protection, and Relocation Programs. The analysis revealed that Mangrove Restoration emerged as the most effective strategy, achieving the highest score of 0.65 due to its significant environmental impact and long-term sustainability. Zoning and Building Codes followed closely with a score of 0.58, showcasing their cost-effectiveness and regulatory advantages. While effective in urban areas, Seawalls ranked third with a score of 0.48, indicating limitations in social acceptance. Coral Reef Protection and Relocation Programs scored 0.46 and 0.38, respectively, reflecting their higher costs and resource intensity. The findings underscored the importance of prioritizing strategies that balance ecological health and socio-economic feasibility, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders. This research identifies key challenges such as balancing ecological health, socio-economic feasibility, and resource limitations. Our framework addresses these by integrating multi-criteria evaluation, presenting novel prioritization insights for climate adaptation strategies in coastal regions.