Multi-Risk Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts in Coastal Zones

Climate change-related impacts (e.g. storm surges, coastal erosion, sea-level rise) in coastal zone are likely to be exacerbated by changes in exposure and vulnerability, mainly driven by the rapid growth of population and urbanization in coastal zones. Accordingly, in the future, coastal zone could be potentially affected by interactions, synergies and trade-offs of multiple hazards and multi-risk approaches are needed to support decision-makers toward a new paradigm of multi-hazard and risk management. An advanced multi-risk methodology was developed for estimating cumulative impacts related to climate change at the regional (i.e. sub-national) scale allowing a quick scan assessment and ranking of natural systems and human assets at risk. The methodology was applied to the North Adriatic coast (Italy) producing a range of GIS-based multi-hazard, exposure, multi-vulnerability and multi-risk maps which provides useful information for local public authorities to set future priorities for adaptation and define future plans for shoreline and coastal management in view of climate change.