Environmental protection and socioeconomic development between ocean and land

Coasts are more than just a boundary between land and sea. They represent the intersection of physical, social, and economic processes that determine both a substantial part of the global economy and its vulnerability to climate change.

A vital interface between the ocean and land, coastal areas support rich ecosystems, a substantial part of the global population, and countless economic activities. 12 of the world’s 15 largest cities and 40% of humans call coastal areas their home, and yet 11% of people living in these regions are directly and severely exposed to hazards connected with climate change.

The strategic value of coastal areas is immense: key infrastructure is built along coastlines around the world; approximately 90% of freight trade passess through coastal ports; and 200 million people are employed in the fishery sector alone. These are just a few examples of the productive forces that are concentrated at the intersection between land and sea.

Although strategically vital to global socio-economic systems, coasts are also exposed to significant threats. Pollution, urbanization, climate change, natural hazards, storm surges, tropical and extratropical cyclones, sea level rise, salt intrusion, and coastal erosion all present critical challenges for coastal communities and both natural and engineered infrastructure.

CMCC, with its distinctive multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach, sees in coastal areas a strategic research direction. This involves the development of multidisciplinary digital twins of the global coastal ocean, integrating new satellites and in-situ observations (including citizen science), and developing advanced modeling and artificial intelligence methods to provide tools, information and solutions for decision-makers.