IMCORE stands for Innovative Management for Europe’s Changing Coastal Resource.
Funded under the Interreg IVB programme (Interreg IVB website), the €6m IMCORE project was led by the Coastal & Marine Resources Centre in University College Cork until its end in 2011. The University of Aberdeen was one of the Expert Couplets.
Information about the IMCORE PROJECT: Click Here
Why are we doing it?
A PRESSING ISSUE: How can the coastal areas of North West Europe best be adapted to climate change?
We need to increase our capacity to respond to the [[Ecological, Social and Economic impacts of climate]] on the viability of coastal sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture, ports and shipping, marine recreation, and the defence of coastal communities from flooding and erosion. To date, most attention has been focused on predicting the types and rates of change likely to occur but what is needed now is a method to identify the adaptation measures that need to be applied to coastal use and management. This project aims to address this by developing a methodology and templates to aid Coastal Managers across NW Europe in developing the required adaptive strategies.
A CLEAR OBJECTIVE: Innovative management to adapt coastal areas to Climate Change The IMCORE partnership will promote a trans‐national, innovative and sustainable approach to reducing the Ecological, Social and Economic impacts of climate change on the coastal resources of North West Europe.
What is IMCORE about?
- A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP:
Expert Couplets of researchers and policy–makers will test innovative ways to address coastal climate change to see what works best Because of the innovative approach of this project, scientists and practitioners involved in coastal management from Ireland, the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands will be working together as expert couplets. This is how local government authorities and research groups will work together to identify the key processes that lead to the socio‐economic consequences of climate change of their local area, supported by a network of trans‐national cooperation. Ways to address these consequences will be tested in real projects.
- LOOKING FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT WAY:
Visualising and developing management strategies to adapt to climate change While couplets are developing various activities at a local level, a variety of innovative approaches, methods and tools will be researched, identified and developed by partners to demonstrate how they can be effective and useful to coastal managers and decision makers who need to visualise the future and plan how to respond to the changes happening on their coasts. For this purpose, adaptive management strategies will be developed, implemented and evaluated at each of the 9 couplet locations (see the section: WHERE IS IT HAPPENING).
- LEARNING TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE:
The multiplying and long lasting effect of IMCORE Coastal managers and policy makers from across NW Europe will be mentored and assisted to plan responses to climate change scenarios through training of trainers and a multimedia online learning tool. This will include a variety of tested and evaluated tools, methods and approaches, examples of adaptive management strategies and guidelines. The regional viability of our coastal communities and sectors will be improved by developing common decision support tools and techniques for future planning.
Who is it for?
European decision makers and coordination bodies: There are benefits to be gained from adopting innovative approaches to the management of climate change impacts in the coastal zone that which should be encouraged in future European policy and practice.
National level decision makers: The good practice of the local Expert Couplet approach demonstrated through the projects activities, can be applied in other parts of the country to deliver capacity for adapting to the challenges of climate change at the coast; and specific actions need to be put in place to protect the socio‐economic vulnerability of coastal resources. Sub national and local stakeholders: We need to take action to address the future implications of climate change on our local coastal resources by implementing strategies for adaptive management.
- Perceptions on Climate Change Video: Click Here
- Introductory Video: Click Here
- Aberdeen Expert Couplet Video: Click Here
- Aberdeen Beach Case Study: Click Here
- Why Adapt? Click Here
"We made visualisation tools accessible to coastal practitioners to communicate about climate change"
Who we are:
University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council
Key climate change issues:
Coastal erosion and flooding. Click on this link to learn more about Climate Change in Aberdeen Beach; coastal activities that could be affected, drivers and impacts and our specific institutional framework.
What we did:
Issues identification workshop, scenario workshop, GIS training videos, adaptation strategy workshop, training session on PESTLE analysis, provided GIS support, training events with young people and communication activities.
Our unique approach:
The council and university work together on planning and implementing a waterfront regeneration project in a long-neglected area of Aberdeen.
It was our priority to tackle the lack of education and the apathy of some segments of the local population by expanding the communities understanding of climate change.
What we learned:
- A broader partnership would have been beneficial to improve impact and scope.
- City councils and coastal practitioners were very interested in visualisation tools. Video training allows them to apply these methodologies in their working environment.
- Data availability is an important issue to be taken into account at the beginning of the process.
Planning to Adapt in Aberdeen Beach
Summary of the Aberdeen Beach case study
Flooding and sea level rise are part of a number of potential threats posed by climate change which can affect Aberdeen and its economic development. The severity of the threat depends on the magnitude of the likely effects, which cannot be accurately forecast. However, in the short term this appears to be relatively small. Nevertheless, the cost of mitigating all the impacts is likely to rise steadily and will represent an increasing economic burden for the city. This will be exacerbated by a lack of knowledge, funds, experience, strong public and executive will to robustly address climate change issues. This is currently impeding significant progress but projects such as IMCORE aim to help improve the situation and have the potential to have a lasting impact on society at the local scale.
Study Area
Aberdeen beach and the Queens Links area - situated directly behind it - (to the West) are important assets for Aberdeen City, while the nearby harbour is a major contributor to the local and regional economies and a key transport link, hosting fishing and shipping industries The Kings Links golf course, beach boulevard and other local amenities add to economic importance of Aberdeen beach.
The beach is located to the east of the city centre. The beach extends 3.5km from the River Dee (and Aberdeen Harbour) in the south to the mouth of the River Don in the north and includes/has 30 timber groynes and blockwork revetments along its length.
Drivers of climate change
The effects of climate change on coastal erosion and flooding are the focus of this case study. The main ways in which these phenomena are likely to be affected are through predicted increases in storminess (ACC 2002) and wave velocity, as well as increases in sea level which, although predicted to be of relatively small magnitude, will nevertheless increase the vulnerability of coastal areas to damage by the sea.
The case study also examines climate change factors not directly related to the sea but which are likely to have an impact on Aberdeen, such as increases in extreme precipitation events and increases in air temperature.
Information Sources:
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007), Fourth Assessment Report, click here to view
• UK Climate Projections Briefing Report
• UK Climate Projections Science Report: Marine & Coastal Projections
• Marine Climate Change Impacts Annual Report Card 2007–2008
• SEPA flood maps. Click here to view
Impacts of climate change
Sea defences
Sea level rise has a direct influence on flood damage both in terms of frequency of occurrence and extent (depth). Increased wave height and energy at the coast in areas of shallow water means more overtopping of defences (http://www.overtopping-manual.com). Also wave forces on defences and natural systems will be greater. Combined higher water levels (and where applicable wave heights) leads to increased mobility of soft coastal features and more likelihood of switching from a stable coastline to an eroding one. This increases pressure for new defences which in turn puts further pressure on natural systems. Short, Mid, and LongTerm Impact.
Infrastructure
Impacts to shoreline and coastal erosion defences will eventually deleteriously affect infrastructure if the coastline progresses landward. Damage from increased flooding will also negatively affect coastal transportation networks. Mid to LongTerm Impact.
Fisheries
Warming sea temperatures could lead to a decrease in habitat for locally important fisheries (whitefish, primarily herring and haddock), as well as an increase in invasive species (such as jellyfish) whose habitat could expand northward with a rise in temperatures. LongTerm Impact.
Agriculture
Warmer temperatures, increased rainfall, and other changes in climate might alter the growing season and impact agriculture in the area. LongTerm Impact.
Commercial/residential areas
With current sea level rise predictions, Footdee as well as the attraction area (amusements and with many cafes and restaurants) will become more vulnerable to flooding during storms, as it is already a low lying area and has experienced flooding in the past due to its exposed location. The economic viability of this historic fishing village as a settlement could eventually be compromised if flooding proves regular. The harbour could also be vulnerable to flooding if sea level rise continues, and if its operation is significantly affected there could be repercussions for the local economy.
Limitations for adapting to issues
One factor affecting local adaptation to climate change is a perceived lack of data/information on climate change impacts, ineffective communication and organisation between organisations potentially responsible for instituting and implementing climate change adaptation policies and programmes. For instance, considering the lack of data, it was noted by attendees that little actual data on local sea level rise exists and that most of the available evidence was anecdotal.
ICZM and institutional context
Roles of the main actors dealing with climate change and coastal management (Source: Hastings, E. (2010) The State of the East Grampian Coast. Aberdeen: Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (Now THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE)
The legal situation and ownership relating to the coastal and marine environment is extremely complex and in turn affects its management. The territorial sea of the UK extends out to 12 nautical miles (nm) and within this limit, the Crown Estate own virtually all of the sea bed and approximately 55% of the foreshore (the area between MHWS7 and MLWS8 in Scotland). The remainder of the foreshore is in private ownership, including the Ministry of Defence, the Forestry Commission, Local Authorities and Harbour Authorities as well as a number of conservation bodies. The owner of land usually has the exclusive rights to that land including the use of it and how it is managed.
The East Grampian Coastal Partnership (EGCP) is a voluntary group of individuals and organisations who have an interest in the wellbeing of the local coast between Kinnaird Head, Fraserburgh and the mouth of the River North Esk, by St Cyrus.
ICZM (Source: Hastings, E. (2010) The State of the East Grampian Coast. Aberdeen: Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (Now THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE).
The Scottish Coastal Forum (SCF) was set up at a national level in 1996 to deal with coastal issues in Scotland and to communicate with Government in terms of ICZM. Part of the SCF 's role is to encourage the formation of Local Coastal Partnerships and to further progress ICZM in Scotland. At present, ICZM in Scotland is not enshrined in statute and therefore a voluntary approach is taken; predominately delivered by Local Coastal Partnerships. However, the actual effectiveness of ICZM in the current situation has been questioned. It has been seen to be more theoretical and rarely transferred into practice as a successful way of managing the coast (Chaniotis and Stead, 2007). The lack of funding available to implement ICZM has also played a major role in its effectiveness.
Institutional blockages:
- Generally, all sectors are equally affected by the constraints on implementing climate change adaptation measures listed herein. Among the constraints are
- Public apathy to adaptation;
- Lack of funds to implement adaptation measures;
- Lack of qualified/experienced personnel to formulate policy and implement effective adaptation strategies;
- Lack of coordination across administrative organisations.
You can download the full Aberdeen Beach Case study here (PDF)
You can download The State of the East Grampian Coast here (PDF)