This Coasts at Risk (C@R) report 1) examines the risks that nations face from vulnerability and exposure to coastal hazards; 2) identifies where environmental degradation contributes to these risks; and 3) explores where environmental solutions can contribute to risk reduction. Risk is defined as the interaction between a natural hazard event (including the adverse impacts of climate change) and the vulnerability of societies. This report applies an indicator-based approach to assessing the risk that coastal nations face with respect to natural hazards. The C@R Index builds on the framework and methodology of the index presented in the WorldRiskReport, which was led by the Alliance Development Works and the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). The WorldRiskReport highlighted that across all countries and hazards (e.g., earthquakes, floods, sea level rise, storms and drought); coastal countries were consistently at the greatest risk. This report and the C@R Index focus only on coastal countries and adds new indicators for fisheries and coastal habitats (natural capital) to highlight the connection between environment and social vulnerability in assessing risk for coastal nations.
What to read next
Published by
- United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
- Nature Conservancy
- USAID
- Coastal Resources Center
- The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography
Funded by
Copyright
- Copyright 2014 by United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). All rights reserved.