Climate change poses a growing challenge for the sustainable development of coastal regions. Both climate change mitigation and climate adaptation measures are necessary, requiring coordination with other spheres of activity and land uses in order to resolve or minimize potential conflicts. Using case study regions, this project aims is to identify possible solutions and recommendations for action on how spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management can contribute to coordination and potential conflict resolution.

The spatial implications of climate change differ significantly across regions. In particular, these impacts present challenges for the management of the various economic uses of coastal regions. In order for sustainable development to be successful, the creation and implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies is needed. Consequently,  the challenges in terms of resources and land use are growing. Because of competing land use claims and significantly increased environmental stresses, an early assessment through formal and informal land use planning is needed. For instance, one example of this challenge lies in the identification of suitable areas for wind turbines or biomass production.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation must be linked in an integrated manner in the coastal region. In particular, cross-sectoral planning has a major role to play in land use planning. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is an instrument that takes into account the different levels of decision-making and could contribute to the sustainable development of coastal region and potential conflict resolution.

Undertaken for for the Federal Environment Agency, this project aims to use case study regions to identify possible solutions and recommendations for action based on how spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management could contribute to coordination and potential conflict resolution. The focus lies on four selected case study regions in order to elaborate recommendations in cooperation with the local coastal stakeholders.

The case study areas are:

• District of Aurich, Lower Saxony
• Office Eiderstedt / district of Northern Friesland, Schleswig-Holstein
• Schleswig-Holstein's Baltic coast, focusing on the Kiel Fjord and Bay of Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein
• Planning Association of Western Pomerania, with focus areas of Markgrafenheide and city of Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Ecologic Institute is responsible for the case studies "District of Aurich"  and "Planning Association of Western Pomerania".

Keywords: Climate change, adaptation, mitigation, flood control, soil conservation, renewable energy, environmental and planning law, ICZM, land use planning, North Sea, Baltic Sea Coast

Sponsor: Federal Environment Agency
Partner: Institut Raum & Energie
Team: Susanne Altvater, Franziska Stuke, Gesa Homann, Andrew Reid, Nico Stelljes
Duration: 1 February 2012 until 1 July 2013
Project number: 2383