World-first framework for building of coastal infrastructure

Global framework for building of coastal infrastructure

Scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have released a framework for guiding the building and management of coastal infrastructure at a global scale.

The framework is hoped to influence management decisions in ways that help coastal systems to resist or recover from the impacts of climate change and construction.

Lead Author Dr. Mariana Mayer Pinto from UNSW said there is great opportunity to improve building on the coast.

“More than 40% of the global population live within 100 km of the coast, so coastal ecosystems and biodiversity are arguably the most impacted by the combined effects of climate change and urbanisation,” she said.

Dr. Mayer Pinto said coastal defences are now being designed to mitigate climate threats to infrastructure but these could be causing more damage.

The decision-making framework incorporates climate impacts across latitudinal scales and it uses suggestions that are valid for the current climate and future predictions.

“We have two main recommendations for scenarios where we can’t avoid building infrastructure – depending on where in the world we’re talking about, the modifications we suggest are either physical or biological in nature,” Dr. Mayer Pinto said.

In lower latitudes, for example tropical environments, communities will become stressed due to warmer waters and this is where physical modifications to systems may be preferable.

In higher latitudes which are typically more temperate areas research suggests environments are experiencing increase biotic stress, which is damage done to an organism by another living organism.

This is due to the global redistribution of animals and plants happening as a result of climatic changes. In these places the framework looks for designs that emphasise biological interventions to create a suitable habitat for key species.

UNSW Dean of Science and senior author of the study, Professor Emma Johnston said the framework is much needed, considering eco-engineering approaches are still rarely used to manage marine urban sprawl.

“There’s a lack of policy and incentives driving ecologically sustainable development on or below the waterline – often, decision makers are choosing the option that works for navigation or coastal defence, but they’re missing the opportunity to design for nature as well.

The scientists say that while some of the proposed biological modifications such as assisted migration or evolution carry risks, the current conversation and management strategies will not be enough to avoid species loss and drastic changes.

Professor Johnston says we are now at a point in global climate change where taking no action is potentially more harmful that intervening with infrastructure based on the best available evidence.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have time to research all the possible outcomes, as environments are changing at very high speed, but we can start with small-scale trials, and then use expert evidence and a risk-based approach to redesigning our coastal management and coastal construction.”