Sea level rise poses one of the most significant challenges of climate change, threatening coastal communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure across Europe. JPI Climate and JPI Oceans, with key input from CMCC experts, have published the 1st European Assessment Report on Sea Level Rise, providing essential insights to guide policymakers, coastal planners, and practitioners in addressing the multifaceted challenges of rising seas.

Original content by JPI Climate and the Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise

Sea level rise is one of the most visible and potentially severe impacts of climate change, posing significant threats to coastal communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. Its far-reaching consequences for Europe’s economy and biodiversity underscore the urgency of easily accessible scientific information for tailored policy responses.

The publication of the first European Assessment Report on Sea Level Rise marks a critical milestone in the collaborative efforts of the Joint Programming Initiatives for Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe (JPI Climate) and for Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans).

Developed over three years through the Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise (KH-SLR), an initiative supported by the nine European countries of Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, this report represents the work of over 70 leading climate and marine scientists. Directed by Nadia Pinardi (UN Ocean Decade Centre for Coastal Resilience, CoastPredict Programme, and member of CMCC’s Strategy Council) and Bart van den Hurk (IPCC Working Group II), these experts delivered an authoritative analysis on sea level rise to support policymakers, practitioners, and coastal planners across Europe.

From the beginning, the report was designed with significant stakeholder input, ensuring that coastal planners, policymakers, and other end-users received targeted, practical knowledge to help them better address the challenges associated with rising sea levels in their regions. Building on the findings of the IPCC, this report incorporates recent research outcomes, providing updated sea level rise projections, impact assessments, and adaptation strategies to support policy and planning across Europe.

Key features of the report:

• Knowledge gaps: Stakeholders from government and academia identified gaps in regional sea level rise projections, uncertainties surrounding shoreline erosion, emerging threats like saltwater intrusion, and the need for effective adaptation strategies.
• Sea Level Rise projections: The report outlines projections under different emission scenarios, highlighting how these vary regionally across Europe.
• Impacts on coastal regions: The report examines the vulnerability of diverse regions, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, detailing the effects of sea level rise on infrastructure, ecosystems, and local economies.
• Adaptation strategies: Recommendations include resilience-building approaches such as nature-based solutions, coastal defense mechanisms, and urban planning that integrates future sea level rise projections.

“Our joint Report on Sea Level Rise is a landmark achievement of our fruitful cooperation with JPI Oceans in providing urgent scientific evidence to support policy making and complementing the IPCC’s authoritative knowledge with a dedicated focus on European basins,” said Antonio Navarra, chair of JPI Climate and CMCC President. “This report provides policymakers and public authorities with the knowledge and guidance they need for targeted action to help build resilience along Europe’s coastlines” concludes Niall McDonough, chair of JPI Oceans.

The report was officially launched during a webinar attended by nearly 300 participants, including policymakers, researchers, and members of the public. Lead authors, including Giulia Galluccio, principal scientific manager at CMCC and vice-chair of JPI Climate, presented findings and addressed audience questions.

Lead author of chapter ‘Adaptation measures and decision making principles’, Galluccio highlighted a critical need for evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of coastal planning measures, noting the trade-offs involved. “We developed a comprehensive catalogue of adaptation measures for coastal planning, and we see that trade-offs are present,” she said. “To accurately analyse existing trade-offs of adaptation measures, it is important to understand the effectiveness and feasibility of these measures. The paper has identified a critical gap in the literature in this regard. In particular, there is a scientific need to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of individual measures and in context-specific cases.”

The report’s findings took center stage at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with dedicated events on November 20 (Italian Pavilion) and November 21 (German Pavilion). These sessions offered opportunities to discuss actionable steps for addressing sea level rise, fostering collaboration among global climate leaders.

The European Assessment Report on Sea Level Rise contributes to the Equinox Process, launched by JPI Climate in March 2023, which accelerates the transfer of climate knowledge from science to policy and practice. It also aligns with the UN Ocean Decade for Ocean Science, in which JPI Oceans serves as an Implementing Partner.

Published in the Copernicus journal State of the Planet, the full report is available here.