The short-term and uneven adaptation of coastal cities to climate change

“These systems” can lead “to maladaptive dependence”, “it is therefore necessary to continue research on alternative and complementary adaptation measures to find mixed solutions”, underline the researchers from multiple universities, grouped in the “Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative Team.

Coastal cities primarily focus on combating sea level rise, different types of flooding, and to a lesser extent the risks posed by erosion and storms.

Too short-term a vision for scientists: these cities will be confronted, like others, with other phenomena linked to climate warming and must better prepare to protect their inhabitants and ecosystems, particularly against heat waves.

Adaptation must go through a “transformation” of cities, that is to say through a change in infrastructure but also institutional, as Singapore, Hong Kong or “several Swedish cities” are trying to do, cited in the report.

Implementation is “slow” and “it is not surprising that there is little evidence of risk reductions”, especially in less affluent countries.

By comparing data from 199 cities, listed in 683 scientific articles, the researchers showed that the actors involved in the adaptation of these urban areas sensitive to climatic hazards change depending on the country and income categories.

“The higher the gross national income (GNI) per capita, the more institutional the adaptation,” conclude the scientists. The richest coastal areas have a technological approach in which the major players are the institutions.

Support from which the poorest coastal towns do not benefit. These, located mainly in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, have no other choice than to rely on a "behavioral and cultural" effort, that is to say it is for populations to adapt.

In these cities, "households are considered the main actors in adaptation to climate change", analyzed the study, "on the other hand we see little involvement of individuals".

The poorest economies remain under-represented in the scientific literature, which complicates their adaptation.

“A considerable gap in research that must be filled,” warns the study.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.