Adaptation Measures

Relevance to Climate Change

Coastal wetland protection and restoration

Acts as buffer against extreme weather events, storm surge, erosion, and floods; limits salt water intrusion.

Marine conservation agreements

Improves the resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change and improves the economic and social conditions of coastal communities.

Marine protected areas

Maintains healthy and resilient coastal habitats and fisheries productivity; acts as “refugia” and critical sources of new larval recruits.

Payment for environmental services

Provides incentives to protect critical habitats that defend against damages from flooding and storm surges as well as coastal erosion.

Beach and dune nourishment

Protects shores and restores beaches; serves as a “soft” buffer against flooding, erosion, scour and water damage.

Building standards

By incorporating climate considerations (e.g. effects of flooding, waves and wind) in building design, it reduces damages and human safety risks from climate change impacts, including extreme events, sea level rise, and flooding.

Coastal development setbacks

Reduces the infrastructure losses and human safety risks of sea level rise, storm surge, and erosion.

Living shorelines

Mitigates erosion and protects people and ecosystems from climate change impacts and variability in low to medium energy areas along sheltered coastlines (e.g. estuarine and lagoon ecosystems).

Structural shoreline stabilization

Temporary buffer against the impacts of erosion and flooding caused by factors such as sea level rise, storm surge, and wave attacks.

Fisheries sector good practices

Contributes to the protection of rural livelihoods, food security and marine biodiversity against the impacts of extreme climate events, precipitation change, ocean acidification, sea level rise and sea surface warming.

Mariculture best management practices

Integration of climate change considerations helps safeguard against extreme climate events, precipitation change, ocean acidification, sea level rise and sea surface warming.

Tourism best management practices

Integration of climate change concerns helps promote the sector’s sustainability as well as safeguard against extreme climate events, precipitation change, sea level rise and sea surface warming.

Community-based disaster risk reduction

By proactive planning and capacity building that addresses the specific needs of local communities, increases their resilience and ability to respond to the effects of extreme climate events and flooding.

Flood hazard mapping

Informs coastal planning processes and policy, reducing the impact of flooding resulting from storm events, heavy rains, storm surges, and extreme tides.

Coastal watershed management

Preserves estuaries, which act as storm buffers and protect against coastal groundwater salinization.

Integrated coastal management

Provides a comprehensive process that defines goals, priorities, and actions to address coastal issues, including the effects of climate change.

Special area management planning

Improves the management of discreet geographic areas where there are complex coastal management issues and conflicts, including issues related to extreme climate events, precipitation change, ocean acidification, sea level rise and temperature change.