15.3.1 Information Development and Awareness Raising

Data collection and information development are essential prerequisites for coastal adaptation. The more relevant, accurate and up-to-date the data and information available, the more targeted and effective adaptation can be. Coastal adaptation requires data and information on coastal characteristics and dynamics, patterns of human behaviour, as well as an understanding of the potential consequences of climate change. It is also essential that there is a general awareness amongst the public and coastal planners and managers of these consequences and of the possible need to act. In countries where the central government has neither the means nor the expertise to address problems in every part of the coast, the information is used most effectively when targeted at the most influential people in the community.

Large-scale global and regional databases exist for a great number of climatic and socio-economic variables relevant to coastal zones. These databases may be accessed and downloaded from the Internet. However, coastal adaptation to climate change cannot rely exclusively on these readily available databases. Table 15.1 lists a number of relevant technologies that can serve to increase the understanding of the coastal system (which involves data collection and analysis), to conduct climate-impact assessment in coastal zones and to raise public awareness. Where appropriate, reference is made to publications that either describe the technology in detail or provide examples of its application. Further information on a broad range of technologies for coastal-system description can be found in Morang et al. (1997a), Larson et al. (1997), Morang et al. (1997b) and Gorman et al. (1998). Bush et al. (1999) described the use of geoindicators for rapid coastal risk assessment, while Capobianco (1999) discussed technologies in relation to integrated coastal zone management.

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