Climate change and ongoing transformation processes in economy and agriculture will have strong and multiple impacts in the Baltic region. In particular coastal zones face increasing hazards, e.g. due to sea level rise or changes in riverine nutrient loads and eutrophication. These changes also offer a wide range of new opportunities in the Baltic Region. Adaptation measures are needed but require a thorough and spatially differentiated understanding of underlying ecological, economic and social processes.
Sixteen contributions by authors from eight countries give a comprehensive overview of these changes, their consequences and practical challenges with focus on coastal zones. Besides risks, the chances and opportunities of changes for the region are addressed and adaptation examples and strategies are given. The practitioners perspective and their demands are integrated in the various contributions.
Preface.- Regionalisation of climate scenarios for the western Baltic Sea Climate Change impacts on the Baltic Sea.- The CO2 system of the Baltic Sea - its relationship to biogeochemistry and future change.- Climate Change impacts on the German Baltic coast - ecosystem and human interactions.- Global change impacts on agricultural land use in the Baltic Coastal Zones of Germany.- Climate Change and the need for Integrated Coastal Risk Management.- Climate Change and Coastal Protection: Adaptation Strategies for Sandy Coasts at the German Baltic Sea Coast.- Coastal area protection problems and solutions in Latvia.- Human impact of recent climate change on coastal areas of Saaremaa Island, Estonia.- Applicability of elastomeric revetments for coastal protection a case study.- A Spatial Development Strategy for Climate Change - The Western Pomerania example.- Natural hazards, risk and climate change in spatial planning.- The impacts of driving forces and potection policies on coastal landscapes: case study of Latvia.- Urban regions in the Baltic Sea Coast adapting to climate change specific challenges and approaches?- Climate change impacts on Baltic tourism - aspects of adaptation.- Climate Change risks and challenges for Bathing Water Quality.- Adaptation to climate change: viniculture and tourism at the Baltic coast.- Good practices of regional adaptation actions for coastal areas: RADOST and the view abroad.- Integrating the CFP and the Marine Strategy for the Baltic. Discussion of Spatial and Temporal Scales in the management and adaption to changing climate.- Decision support tools and stakeholder involvement: Scenario workshops as an informal instrument to implement adaptation strategies to climate change.- Index.
