Regional Coastal Cooperation in southern Sweden as a method for coastal management and communication.

Abstract

The County Administrative Boards in Skåne and Halland, together with the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), and Swedish Geological Survey (SGU), have taken the initiative to start a Regional Coastal Cooperation. Both counties’ municipalities and individuals are currently facing problems managing rising sea levels, erosion and flooding.

Regional cooperation is important for Skåne and Halland as they are the two counties in southern Sweden that are most likely to be exposed to the combined effects of rising sea levels, flooding and erosion. Strategic and coordinated efforts at local level are needed to deal with these challenges in coastal areas, where guidance and support are also provided from regional and national levels. Today's governance system where the responsibility for dealing with these challenges falls on municipalities and individual home owners, presents difficulties in solving complex issues. Various actors feel that they are affected in a way that is not fair. Implementing appropriate measures requires extensive coordination, collaboration, a clear division of responsibilities and financial resources. Regional Coastal Cooperation aims, among other things, to inform national decision-makers in close dialogue with the coastal municipalities in Skåne and Halland that there is a need to strengthen the state's responsibility for these issues.

Regional Coastal Cooperation also to highlights the need to develop knowledge and planning in order to deal with the difficult issues associated with rising sea level which may affect the development, infrastructure and other values ​​on the coast. Today, there is no comprehensive information on how coastal processes affect different coastal sections in Skåne and Halland. Knowledge about different types of measures and how well they work also needs to be increased. Increased knowledge and consensus are necessary to achieve measures that involve sustainable development in accordance with Agenda 2030 and the global goals.

The overall goal of Regional Coastal Cooperation is to find concrete solutions to address the challenges posed by rising sea levels, erosion and flooding in coastal areas in Skåne and Halland in ways that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

In this presentation, we discuss the challenges and potentials of how five identified project groups within Regional Coastal Cooperation project work to implement solutions in coastal areas. Thus, we present how coastal municipalities and the property owners concerned gain knowledge of coastal processes, potential risks and possible measures. We evaluate how coastal municipalities develop and implement strategies for planning and managing the coast that ensure long-term sustainable solutions; manage erosion and flood on the basis of good knowledge, long-term visibility, flexibility, transparency and a holistic perspective. And we highlight how Regional Coastal Cooperation works to ensure that there is a sustainable and fair distribution of responsibilities and financing model for the undertaken measures. Finally, we assess the need for continued and strengthened cooperation in these coastal regions.