Abstract

Management of coastal zones relies on the effective use of diverse data and a wide range of technologies. As climate continues to change, these coastal zones and low-lying areas experience the increased adverse effects of both economic and non-economic loss and damage.

This policy brief is the result of collaborative work of the TEC and WIM Executive Committee with valuable contribution from experts in these areas and inputs from the Expert Dialogue on technologies for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage in coastal zone held in conjunction with the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June 2019.

This policy brief provides a synthesis of knowledge on loss and damage experienced in coastal zones and an overview of technologies for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage, highlighting tools and methodologies to determine risk, protect coastal zones, build resilience and foster recovery and rehabilitation.

The policy brief focuses on technologies needed for risk assessment, risk retention, and recovery and rehabilitation in coastal zones. In addition, the brief explores how a combination of technologies can be used to assess, manage and accommodate climate change impacts in a comprehensive manner. These range from hard technologies (e.g. those that monitor and estimate coastal hazards, exposure and vulnerability), to soft technologies (e.g. knowledge and skills training) to organization technologies, known as orgware (e.g. policies, institutional settings, and regulation and governance structures). The brief also illustrates good practices from different regions and possible ways for countries to overcome the challenges to scaling up their use.

In view of the growing needs among countries, in particular developing countries, to prepare for a challenging future, the WIM Executive Committee and the TEC commissioned a joint policy brief on technologies for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage in coastal zones that would link to mitigation, adaptation and disaster preparedness activities and be compatible with national climate policy frameworks.