Sea levels: science and society

Abstract

“Earth Science for Society” is the tagline for the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE). This joint initiative by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Union of Geological Sciences, aims to promote the activities of Earth scientists and encourage effective use of their knowledge by society. The fourth assessment report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II, which considers impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, is an example of work that places current scientific understanding in a policy-relevant context (Parry et al., 2007). The AR4 highlights that coasts are already experiencing adverse change linked to climate and sea level. Risks such as those associated with coastal erosion will increase over the coming decades and increased human pressures on the coastal zone will exacerbate their impacts, which will be particularly challenging for developing countries (Nicholls et al., 2007).