Postcards from the Edge II: Adapting to our changing coast

CIWEM’s 'Postcards' report collates voices from coastal management practitioners across the UK and beyond, sharing real-world experiences, challenges and solutions. Through diverse perspectives, shaped by geography, socioeconomics, political context and evolving environmental pressures, this report captures the urgent realities facing our coasts.

From these insights, CIWEM’s Flood & Coastal Erosion policy panel has outlined ten policy recommendations to better manage the UK’s changing coastline. These include more flexible, pooled funding for coastal adaptation, shoreline management plans with greater powers in planning, and a national policy statement with cross-party support. Taken together, these recommendations will secure a sustainable and community-focussed future for our coastline.

This is an update on Postcards from the Edge I, launched at CIWEM’s Flood and Coast Conference in June 2024. The update includes new postcards from the Climate Change Committee, Historic England and from the University of Hull – the latter focusing on innovative arts and humanities approaches to coastal resilience.