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UK funding (£2,453,155): Resilience of Anthropocene Coasts and Communities (ResAnth): assessing and responding to urban and post-industrial coastal risks Ukri1 Apr 2024 UK Research and Innovation, United Kingdom

Overview

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Resilience of Anthropocene Coasts and Communities (ResAnth): assessing and responding to urban and post-industrial coastal risks

Abstract ResAnth addresses the interlinked risks of climate change, coastal flooding and erosion, and the UK's historic waste legacy for coastal community and ecosystem resilience. Coastal flooding and erosion will accelerate under climate change. Our past industrialisation has left a pollution legacy of over 1,700 historic coastal landfills and 3,000 hectares of contaminated land also at risk from coastal flooding and/or erosion (CCC 2018; POST 2021). By 2100 the number of people exposed to coastal floods and erosion, and therefore legacy coastal waste, will increase significantly and almost half legacy waste sites are within 100m of environmentally sensitive areas such as protected wetlands or bathing waters (Brand et al. 2018). Many sites are already eroding, releasing pollution, plastics, asbestos and/or medical waste into our coastal environments with limited understanding of pollution risk to people or the marine environment. Without intervention one in 10 could erode by 2055. Many UK coastal landfills are at increasing future risk e.g., at Lyme Regis, the Spittles Lane landfill contains 50,000 tonnes of waste on an eroding cliff top and will "almost certainly erode" releasing material to the beach without intervention (Nichols et al. 2020). How we manage the intergenerational burden of our past coastal waste disposal and its accelerated risk to society and ecosystems in a changing climate is a "burning imperative" (Environment Agency 2022). In a "call to arms", coastal Local Authorities have identified the enormity of this problem with almost 50% reporting waste sites eroding, or 'at risk'. Yet we do not have sufficient evidence to: 1) build robust business cases to manage (by defending, remediating or 'letting alone') these sites; 2) inform sustainable coastal management decision-making (Shoreline Management Plans) that takes account of the presence of waste; and 3) engage and support those communities who will live with these decisions. Working in 3 'at-risk' UK geographic areas we will: Investigate the risk of waste and pollution release under more severe flooding and coastal erosion scenarios. Assess the harm this pollution will do to coastal environments and adjacent communities. Increase collaboration between a range of stakeholders to understand the different kinds of environmental and social challenges involved. Facilitate inclusive debate on future efforts to manage these risks using established methods and arts-based activities to reach new audiences. Work with communities and policy makers to explore and co-develop policy options and practical actions that will build resilience, and identify potential co-benefits for people and place. Ensure the project's approach, methods and key findings for coastal resilience measures can be scaled across the UK. Assessing the range of risks associated with coastal waste release and building an inclusive and practical 'toolkit' of responses will benefit: 1) organisations who manage the coast, conserve and protect people and habitats; and 2) landowners and communities who use and appreciate the coastal environment for its amenities and cultural value. We have designed a novel 'Community Atlas' to share information, conclusions, and arts outputs with these groups, and that allows citizens to upload their own information and stories about coastal change. ResAnth has been co-conceived with our Project Partners through collaboration, in particular, with; 1) Environment Agency, local authorities, and coastal partnerships to identify research needs; 2) the Climate Change Committee and Policy Connect to understand policy gaps; and 3) engagement with communities through arts-science initiatives.
Category Research and Innovation
Reference ES/Z502698/1
Status Active
Funded period start 01/04/2024
Funded period end 30/09/2027
Funded value £2,453,155.00
Source https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FZ502698%2F1

Participating Organisations

Queen Mary University of London
Natural Environment Research Council
Dept for Env Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA
AHRC
NATURAL ENGLAND
ADEPT
Coastal Partnership East
Royal HaskoningDHV Global
Coastal Partnerships Network
Art Walk Projects
Climate Change Committee
Citizens UK
Port of London Authority (PLA)
Edinburgh Adapts/Scottish Water
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Cerema
Museum of London Archaeology
CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
Creative Carbon Scotland
Devon County Council
Local Government Association
East Haven Together
NatureScot
Marine Scotland
Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Net
Southern Coastal Group
Policy Connect
SNIFFER
SCOPAC
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
The Wildlife Trusts (UK)
SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY
NATIONAL TRUST
National Flood Forum
Society of Thames Mudlarks
BCP Council
Torridge District Council

The filing refers to a past date, and does not necessarily reflect the current state. The current state is available on the following page: Queen Mary University of London, London.

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