Last week, the Devon Maritime Forum held its conference on coastal change and climate emergency in Plymouth:
South West coastal change: challenges for Sidmouth
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And very successful it was too – with attendance by Cllr Geoff Jung, chair of the Sidmouth BMP steering group – as well as stakeholder members of the steering group Robert Crick of the VGS and Tony Burch, who gave a presentation at the conference.
Here’s the report:
South West Coastal Change Conference 2019
26th November 2019 – University of Plymouth, Marine Station
Organised and hosted by the DMF in partnership with the University of Plymouth and Royal HaskoningDHV
Managing our Coast in a Changing Climate
What does it mean to manage our coast in the context of a climate emergency? How much will sea-levels rise in the next 50, 100, 300 years? Are we facing up to the inevitability of future coastal change? Are existing policies and practice fit for purpose? Where, how and when, should we think beyond ‘hold the line’? What are the challenges and opportunities of working with natural processes at the coast? How do we further integrate FCERM into Local Planning? What are the relationships between the FCERM and the health and well-being agendas? How, when and where can we better communicate and engage with impacted communities?
These were some of the questions that were addressed at the inaugural South West Coastal Change Conference on the 26th November 2019 at the Marine Station on the shores of Plymouth Sound. Organised and hosted by the Devon Maritime Forum, in partnership with the Marine Institute, University of Plymouth and Royal HaskoningDHV this event offered an unrivalled regional opportunity to hear the very latest thinking on this critical issue and to contribute to the conversation.
#SWCoastalChange19 shaped up to be one of the best events the Forum has put together: a venue at full capacity; an exceptional range of speakers working at the forefront of ‘coastal change’ research, policy and practice; and a really engaged, passionate and diverse audience.
Presentations
- Prof. Ed Maltby (Devon Maritime Forum) ‘Intro Slide‘
Session I – The Urgency
- Doug Eltham (Devon Climate Emergency) ‘The Climate Emergency: Devon’s Response‘
- Dr. Matt Palmer (Sea-level and Ocean Climate Lead, Met Office) ‘UK CP18 – Marine Projections‘
- Dr. Andrew Russell (Committee on Climate Change) ‘Managing the Coast in a Changing Climate‘
Session II – Beyond Hold the Line
- Dr. Luciana Esteves (Bournemouth University) ‘Dynamic Coasts: Realities of Managed Realignment Now and in the Future‘
- Dr. Dave Watkins (Cornwall Council and Reinier Zoutenbier (Royal HaskoningDHV) ‘Working with Natural Processes at the Coast… in Cornwall‘
- Justin Ridgewell (Environment Agency) ‘Nature Based Solutions: New imperatives for coastal risk management and the implications for SMP policy and designated sites’
- Dr. Louise Firth (University of Plymouth) ‘Greening the Grey: BIOBLOCKS‘
Session III – Planning for Coastal Change
- Emerald Siggery (Plymouth Coastal Observatory) ‘The South West Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme‘ see also http://southwest.coastalmonitoring.org/
- Graeme Smith (South Devon and Dorset Coastal Advisory Group) ‘Shoreline Management Plans – Refresh’ (to be uploaded shortly)
- Dr. Christopher Stokes and Dr. Tim Poate (SWEEP, University of Plymouth) ‘Improving Coastal Resilience: Wave Overtopping Forecasts and Coastal Change Management Areas)
- Tony Burch (EA Retired/Sidmouth Beach Management Plan) ‘Bridging the Gap: Professionals to Communities’
Session IV – Community: Engagement, Health and Well-Being
- Justin Ridgewell (Environment Agency) ‘Sustaining Community Engagement‘ see also https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-engagement-on-climate-adaptation-to-flood-risk
- Dr. Nicola Beaumont (CoastWEB, Plymouth Marine Laboratory) ‘CoastWEB: Saltmarsh, Coastal Protection and Human Health and Well-being‘
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