Climate Change and the Coastal Challenge: Innovative Means of Stakeholder Involvement

Abstract

This paper describes how a major research theme at the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research, United Kingdom (UK), is concerned with sustaining the coastal zone. Research projects within this theme are focused on examining the effects of different sea-level rise and adaptation scenarios on coastal habitats and communities in East Anglia. A key aspect of this paper is to involve stakeholders throughout the research process by encouraging local citizens to help participate in shaping the future of coastal communities and habitats. Part of this research has involved a series of agenda setting workshops entitled “Redesigning the Coast” that has led to some very fruitful discussions about new forms of institutional governance in the coastal zone and innovative means of stakeholder dialogue. The series has progressed from engaging with scientists, government and non-government organizations, to the residents of Norwich and, lastly, to include 67 representative from local parishes along the cost of East Anglia. This paper details how these workshops have been used to improve the dialogue between scientists and stakeholders, by raising local awareness of coastal responses to climate change and also to help feed local knowledge into research projects.