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	IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007

Climate Change 2007: Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

Chapter 6: Coastal Systems and Low-Lying Areas

6.1 Introduction: scope, summary of Third Assessment Report conclusions and key issues

6.2 Current sensitivity/vulnerability

6.2.2 Increasing human utilisation of the coastal zone

6.2.3 External terrestrial and marine influences

6.2.4 Thresholds in the behaviour of coastal systems

6.2.5 Observed effects of climate change on coastal systems

6.3 Assumptions about future trends for coastal systems and low-lying areas

6.3.1 Environmental and socio-economic trends

6.3.2 Climate and sea-level scenarios

6.4 Key future impacts and vulnerabilities

6.4.1 Natural system responses to climate change drivers

6.4.2 Consequences for human society

6.4.3 Key vulnerabilities and hotspots

6.5 Costs and other socio-economic aspects

6.5.1 Methods and tools for characterising socio-economic consequences

6.5.2 Socio-economic consequences under current climate conditions

6.5.3 Socio-economic consequences of climate change

6.6 Adaptation: practices, options and constraints

6.6.1 Adaptation to changes in climate and sea level

6.6.2 Costs and benefits of adaptation

6.6.3 Limits and trade-offs in adaptation

6.6.5 The links between adaptation and mitigation in coastal and low-lying areas

6.7 Conclusions: implications for sustainable development

6.8 Key uncertainties, research gaps and priorities

References

Coordinating Lead Authors:

Robert J. Nicholls (UK), Poh Poh Wong (Singapore)

Lead Authors:

Virginia Burkett (USA), Jorge Codignotto (Argentina), John Hay (New Zealand), Roger McLean (Australia), Sachooda Ragoonaden (Mauritius), Colin D. Woodroffe (Australia)

Contributing Authors:

Pamela Abuodha (Kenya), Julie Arblaster (USA/Australia), Barbara Brown (UK), Don Forbes (Canada), Jim Hall (UK), Sari Kovats (UK), Jason Lowe (UK), Kathy McInnes (Australia), Susanne Moser (USA), Susanne Rupp-Armstrong (UK), Yoshiki Saito (Japan), Richard S.J. Tol (Ireland)

Review Editors:

Job Dronkers (The Netherlands), Geoff Love (Australia), Jin-Eong Ong (Malaysia)

This chapter should be cited as:

Nicholls, R.J., P.P. Wong, V.R. Burkett, J.O. Codignotto, J.E. Hay, R.F. McLean, S. Ragoonaden and C.D. Woodroffe, 2007: Coastal systems and low-lying areas. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson, Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 315-356.