Sharing best practices on ICZM, in a context of Adaptation to climate Change in coastal areas

Climate change is affecting European marine areas and coastal zones and resulting in, among others, sea-level rise, increased frequency and severity of storms, ocean acidification, coastal erosion, changes in sea surface temperature as well as changes in biodiversity and ecosystems. Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management are process-based tools for appropriately planning and managing human activities in marine and coastal regions. Both tools will contribute to the sustainable growth of maritime and coastal economies and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. Having the potential impacts and the related costs in mind, adaptation has to become a central element in ICZM and MSP.

Over the past few years, a lack of a more coherent, strategic, and perhaps binding approach to integrated coastal management that could ensure detailed plans in all coastal areas of the EU has been identified. This contract provided up-to-date and well-targeted information aiming to increase, share and disseminate the Member States’ knowledge about Integrated Coastal Zone Management and the linkages with Maritime Spatial Planning in the context of climate change adaptation in coastal areas. The project comprised 5 tasks:

1. Task A identified possible measures, support actions, and policy actions to integrate coastal zone management and climate change adaptation in coastal zones and the link to marine areas.
2. Task B prepared the basis for developing guidance to the Member States on ICZM implementation.
3. Task C updated cases in the OURCOAST database.
4. Task D proposed options for coordination and integration of the OURCOAST database with other relevant information-sharing platforms.
5. Task E supported the European Commission in its stakeholder information and consultation processes through a multi-annual newsletter and by attending workshops and conferences.

Fresh Thoughts was the Technical Coordinator for the entire project. Additionally, the Fresh Thoughts Team led Task B in developing a guidance document focusing on how to turn the eight ICZM principles, the 10 MSP principles, and climate change adaptation into concrete action.