Coastal Communities Adaptation

A resource for Scottish coastal communities

Coastal change beyond 2100

  • The biggest changes are likely to happen after 2100
  • Even if we achieve net zero, sea levels could take centuries to stabilise
  • We cannot rule out more than 5m sea level rise by 2150 and more than 15m by 2300 under high warming scenarios
  • There are lots of knowledge gaps in our modelling of sea level rise, relating to complex ice sheet changes happening at the poles, and how large ocean currents are responding to rising sea temperatures.
  • If the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are destabilised, rapid melting and collapse could lead to much faster and higher sea level rise.
  • Whilst our communities are already seeing the impacts of climate change some of the biggest challenges will occur when today’s nursery children are our senior citizens, and beyond 2100. In the same way that we recognise our towns and cities in historic maps, our decisions will leave a mark for centuries to come. Emissions reductions don’t stop sea level rise in the short-term, but they can push back sea level rise. So we need today’s and tomorrow’s communities to get involved and secure our sustainable future.
Coastal Communities Adaptation Seal Level Rise of 5m by 2150

We need to work together to navigate such a big change.

It won't be possible to build walls to protect all of the coastline.

We can expect landward retreat of assets and people in future to respond to long-term risks of erosion and flooding.