An Examination of Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation in Southern Sweden
(2021) VBRM15 20211Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
- Abstract
- While grey infrastructure, such as sea walls, have been the traditional method of mitigating coastal hazards there has been an increasing interest in adapting using natural processes, known as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). As with most places in the world, southern Sweden is facing an increase in coastal hazards due to climate change related sea level rise. There is a need to understand the utility of NbS for coastal adaptation in areas such as southern Sweden. To this end, an adapted systematic review of relevant academic literature was conducted along with interviews with key stakeholders for the southern Swedish town of Halmstad. A variety of themes about NbS emerged from the literature. This included: capacity for risk reduction, time... (More)
- While grey infrastructure, such as sea walls, have been the traditional method of mitigating coastal hazards there has been an increasing interest in adapting using natural processes, known as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). As with most places in the world, southern Sweden is facing an increase in coastal hazards due to climate change related sea level rise. There is a need to understand the utility of NbS for coastal adaptation in areas such as southern Sweden. To this end, an adapted systematic review of relevant academic literature was conducted along with interviews with key stakeholders for the southern Swedish town of Halmstad. A variety of themes about NbS emerged from the literature. This included: capacity for risk reduction, time and space scale considerations, flexibility provided by self-adapting and self-repairing capacities, common regulating, cultural, and provisioning ecosystem services, public perceptions, connection to equity, direct and indirect costs, design consideration, and the most common challenges NbS face. Similarly, themes emerged from the interviews about the Swedish context. These included: ecosystem services applicable to Halmstad, Swedish perspectives of NbS, costs, data gap challenges, and the Swedish regulatory framework for coastal adaptation. Within these topics, ran the theme that all these characteristics have context specific qualities. There are many challenges in the implementation of NbS. Significantly, they are best implemented using a holistic approach, which is difficult to achieve. Overall, NbS are well worth pursuing, as they offer multiple benefits and flexibility as adaptation measures. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Popular Scientific Summary of Master’s thesis: An Examination of Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation in Southern Sweden
The use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for coastal disaster risk reduction is of growing interest and importance, but NbS are complex systems that merit additional research.
Sweden’s coastline is highly important for economic purposes and leisure activities. In southern Sweden, sea level rise is leading to an increase in coastal flooding and erosion, putting this valuable area at higher risk of damage. To protect the coast, coastal adaptation is necessary. While adaptation has traditionally been done through grey infrastructure measures, like sea walls, there is growing interest in using Nature-based... (More) - Popular Scientific Summary of Master’s thesis: An Examination of Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation in Southern Sweden
The use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for coastal disaster risk reduction is of growing interest and importance, but NbS are complex systems that merit additional research.
Sweden’s coastline is highly important for economic purposes and leisure activities. In southern Sweden, sea level rise is leading to an increase in coastal flooding and erosion, putting this valuable area at higher risk of damage. To protect the coast, coastal adaptation is necessary. While adaptation has traditionally been done through grey infrastructure measures, like sea walls, there is growing interest in using Nature-based Solutions (NbS). NbS refers to using natural processes to address societal challenges, such as using wetlands or oyster reefs as a coastal buffer to reduce coastal hazards.
This thesis increases the understanding of the use of NbS’ to decrease the risk of coastal hazards, with a focus on southern Sweden and beyond. To do this, themes were identified through a structured review of relevant academic literature and interviews with key stakeholders such as government employees and engineering consultants. Nine main themes were identified: capacity for risk protection, time and space considerations, flexibility, common ecosystem services, public perception, how NbS is tied to social equity, costs, design considerations, the Swedish regulatory framework for coastal adaptation, and the most common challenges NbS face. By combining data from academic literature and stakeholder interviews, several key findings became apparent:
-NbS can effectively reduce coastal risks through a variety of methods;
-NbS hazard reduction extent varies from factors like species, context and lifespan;
-NbS are generally more cost effective than grey infrastructure;
-NbS should be approached holistically and incorporate ethical considerations;
-NbS implementation can be discouraged by unclear design requirements and lack of data; and
-NbS are unique in their flexibility, self-repair ability, and multiple benefits.
This thesis may be useful in guiding or inspiring the work of municipal risk managers, engineers, academics, or anyone else concerned with management of coastal hazards. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9073297
- author
- Fiertz, Elizabeth LU
- supervisor
-
- Per Becker LU
- organization
- course
- VBRM15 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Green Infrastructure, Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, Coastal Flood Protection, Erosion Protection
- language
- English
- id
- 9073297
- date added to LUP
- 2022-01-25 12:31:41
- date last changed
- 2022-01-25 12:31:41
@misc{9073297,
abstract = {{While grey infrastructure, such as sea walls, have been the traditional method of mitigating coastal hazards there has been an increasing interest in adapting using natural processes, known as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). As with most places in the world, southern Sweden is facing an increase in coastal hazards due to climate change related sea level rise. There is a need to understand the utility of NbS for coastal adaptation in areas such as southern Sweden. To this end, an adapted systematic review of relevant academic literature was conducted along with interviews with key stakeholders for the southern Swedish town of Halmstad. A variety of themes about NbS emerged from the literature. This included: capacity for risk reduction, time and space scale considerations, flexibility provided by self-adapting and self-repairing capacities, common regulating, cultural, and provisioning ecosystem services, public perceptions, connection to equity, direct and indirect costs, design consideration, and the most common challenges NbS face. Similarly, themes emerged from the interviews about the Swedish context. These included: ecosystem services applicable to Halmstad, Swedish perspectives of NbS, costs, data gap challenges, and the Swedish regulatory framework for coastal adaptation. Within these topics, ran the theme that all these characteristics have context specific qualities. There are many challenges in the implementation of NbS. Significantly, they are best implemented using a holistic approach, which is difficult to achieve. Overall, NbS are well worth pursuing, as they offer multiple benefits and flexibility as adaptation measures.}},
author = {{Fiertz, Elizabeth}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{An Examination of Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation in Southern Sweden}},
year = {{2021}},
}