The 2024 Littoral conference, held between the 24th and 27th of September 2024, was hosted by Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania, on behalf of the European Coastal and Marine Union (EUCC) community, with support from the Professional Association of Romanian Geographers, University of Bucharest, and EUCC – The Coastal Union Germany.
This was the 17th traditional biennial EUCC event. In a time of increasing vulnerability for coastal areas, this year’s Littoral conference brought together experts and the Young Professionals Coastal Community (YPCC) from 14 Member States, the UK and Brasil as a critical platform for discussing strategies that balance ecological preservation, coastal communities and economic sustainability.
Five themes relevant to coastal challenges were given dedicated sessions. These were:
- Climate change adaptation strategies;
- Coastal and marine protected areas and ecosystem services assessment;
- Challenging conditions and transformations for coastal communities during current crises;
- Perspectives in support of a sustainable blue economy through participatory approaches and engagement with stakeholders;
- Improving coastal and maritime governance and cross-sectoral collaboration.
What is Europe’s greatest coastal challenge?
Delegates in-person at Europe’s 17th EUCC Littoral conference participated in a ‘slido’ poll during the event. At the outset, over 40 challenges were identified for the future of our coasts. The most prominent concerns were around pollution, marine litter and eutrophication. Challenges across Europe were associated with climate change – specifically rising sea levels, erosion and flooding. Recognising that people are putting substantial pressure on coastal resources and biodiversity, concerns were raised about human growth, overconsumption, overpopulation, overfishing, uncontrolled tourism and coastal degradation. Systemic governance challenges were posed, such as how to achieve ‘real sustainability’ when there is mismanagement and a need to better engage coastal communities to avoid disconnection and increase biodiversity conservation.
Alice Guittard, representing the Athens University of Economics and Business, presented two AE4RIA projects, the H2020 ARSINOE project, and the H2020 BRIDGE-BS project, showcasing innovation and transformation pathways co-developed with stakeholders for coastal region adaptation and resilience and the Black Sea in particular.
To what is Europe’s biggest coastal challenge?’, AUEB reinforced the need to “develop collective and comprehensive approaches to the necessary transition, moving away from unsustainable practices by translating scientific understanding and stakeholder involvement into concrete advice for policy”, reflected as a good summary of the conference. AUEB highlighted that solutions to the EU coastal greatest challenge are multiples and including first and foremost “Strategic adaptive management planning co-developed with the community, based on an ambitious sustainable vision for our coast”.
For more information about Littoral 2024 visit the Conference website and check here the Book of Abstracts.