GCSD: A comprehensive coastal indicators database for global coastal sustainable development assessment

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Sustainability Science
• Coastal Management

Background:

• Coastal zones support 40% of the global population and vital biodiversity.
• Climate change and human activities pose synergistic threats to coastal sustainability.
• Existing assessments are hindered by data fragmentation and inconsistent scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Global Coastal Sustainable Development (GCSD) Indicators Database.
• To provide a standardized, high-resolution (1 km) framework for assessing coastal sustainability.
• To bridge gaps in data fragmentation, spatial scales, and indicator integration.

Main Methods:

• Utilized open-access datasets to create a high-resolution (1 km) framework.
• Integrated coastal pressures, socioeconomic exposure, and ecological thresholds.
• Harmonized scattered data into a replicable framework, overcoming scale mismatches and data heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• Developed the GCSD Indicators Database, a novel framework for coastal sustainability assessment.
• Successfully bridged disparate data sources, addressing issues of scale and data standards.
• Created a tool to track progress and inform adaptive management strategies.

Conclusions:

• The GCSD database enhances the ability to monitor coastal sustainability effectively.
• This framework supports informed decision-making for balancing immediate needs with long-term goals.
• It provides a replicable solution for integrated coastal zone management and SDG tracking.