Climate change and human security in coastal regions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Science
• Human Security Studies

Background:

• Coastal regions face escalating climate hazards and vulnerability due to unique regional characteristics.
• Emerging research highlights the interconnectedness of ecological and socioeconomic factors in coastal climate risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review academic literature on coastal climate risk and adaptation from a human security perspective.
• To analyze ecological and socioeconomic developments in key risk areas within diverse coastal geographies (islands, megacities, deltas).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of emerging research and current trends.
• Analysis of ecological and socioeconomic developments across various coastal risk areas.
• Consideration of geographical contexts including islands, megacities, and deltas.

Main Results:

• Identified key risk areas: coastal infrastructure, water, food, fisheries, health, human mobility, and conflict.
• Highlighted compounding and cascading interactions requiring integrative research and policy.
• Examined governance mechanisms like coastal management, nature-based solutions, and community-based adaptation.

Conclusions:

• A human security perspective offers a holistic view of climate risks and societal instability in coastal systems.
• Integrative research and policy are essential to address the complexity of compounding and cascading climate interactions.
• Sustainable and transformative adaptation solutions require understanding the interconnectedness of different risk dimensions for vulnerable coastal hotspots.