Adapting the coast to climate change: science, nature and governance at the center of the debate

Climate change is forcing coastal municipalities to rethink how they manage their coastline and natural resources to anticipate its impacts. This was one of the main topics of debate at the conference "The impact of climate change on coastal municipalities. Mediterranean adaptation and resilience", held last Friday, October 30, in Calonge and Sant Antoni. The meeting, organized by the City Council of this village, brought together more than twenty speakers from the scientific, technical and institutional spheres to share assessments and proposals regarding the climate challenges facing the Mediterranean coast.

The event featured prominent institutional and scientific presence, with the telematic participation of figures such as the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, and the Minister of Industry and Tourism of the Spanish Government, Jordi Hereu. Ribera defended the importance of preventing climate impacts before having to rebuild the damage, while Hereu highlighted the need to move towards a more sustainable tourism model. Among the experts on the scientific side, biologist and socio-ecologist Ramon Folch made a detailed diagnosis of climate change and climatologist Javier Martín-Vide pointed out municipal adaptation measures such as increasing vegetation and climate shelters to deal with rising temperatures and extreme rainfall.

Representing CREAF, researcher Annelies Broekman participated in a dialogue on the effects of climate change on agriculture, water and forests, where she warned that the degradation of ecosystems and the loss of agricultural diversification compromise the territory's capacity for adaptation and resilience. Her intervention highlighted the importance of preserving both the functionality of natural systems and the vitality of the rural areas, highlighting the art and culture of rooted farming communities, which provide the diversification necessary for the agricultural landscapes to adapt to climate change.

The protection of the coastline against marine storms through Nature-Based Solutions was also a major focus of the debate. The director of the UPC's Maritime Engineering Laboratory, Manel Grifoll, defended the recovery of dune systems and posidonia meadows as natural barriers capable of reducing wave energy. Meanwhile, Mauricio González, a professor of hydraulics, warned of the increase in the frequency of extreme storms and the potential costs they could impose on coastal infrastructures.

The importance of coastal planning based on an integrated and long-term political vision was also highlighted. In this regard, Albert Grases, coordinator of the Coastal Protection and Management Plan for the Government of Catalonia, addressed the need for planning tools capable of anticipating the effects of climate change, while balancing ecosystems protection, human uses and economic activity along the coast. As an outcome of the meeting, the mayor of Calonge and Sant Antoni, Jordi Soler, proposed the creation of an association of coastal municipalities across the Mediterranean arc to share experiences and promote joint solutions.

What is clear is that the climate emergency requires adaptation and mitigation policies agreed upon by all territorial stakeholders. In this context, ClimaGov project, led by CREAF, aims to contribute to improving environmental governance for ecosystem-based climate change adaption. Through this initiative, the team, led by Annelies Broekman and Anna Marín, will work to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and available tools and actual decision-making processes, while enhancing the involvement of local stakeholders in the design and implementation of adaptation measures. The goal is to overcome coordination barriers and address conflicts between the various interests within a territory, a challenge that is particularly significant in the management of coastal municipalities.