Human Development Report - Croatia 2008 Coastal Zone and Sea-Level Rise^87The same is true for adapting to the impact of sea-
level rise on the tourism sector. Private sector actors
can be expected to adapt to sea-level rise in both the
short- and long-run. They have sufficient incentives –
but perhaps not always the means – to avoid property
losses caused by sea-level rise. Nevertheless, this fact
does not eliminate the possibility of public sector in-
volvement and leadership. The public sector should
provide a legal backdrop and develop policies, which
will support the initiatives of the private sector. Cop-
ing with sea-level rise can involve two areas where the
intervention of the public sector is quite common:
Financing large capital improvements that are,
more or less, public goods or that address a collec-
tive need, but are difficult to finance with private
funds; and
Zoning and land use restrictions, including intro-
ducing Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM- see Box 5-2).
The general options for adjusting to sea-level rise
for the public and private sectors are described in
Table 5-4:
X A hydraulic structure built out from the shore (in coastal engineering) or from the bank (in rivers) that interrupts the flow of water and sediment.
Adjustments to adapt to climate
change Detailed explanation
Structural and non-structural mea-
sures to prevent coastal erosion and
inundation damage- Structural measures would include increasing the protection of coastal
resources from erosion, inundation and storm surges through measures
such as beach replenishment, rip-raping, groynes,X sea-walls, raising
structures above flood elevations, and other floodproofing measures. - Non-structural measures would include removing development away
from flooding risk through zoning, land-use restrictions, and access to
flood insurance.
Protection of property against long-
term land loss - This option would involve building dikes, sea-walls and other structures
to hold back sea-water from property that will be below sea-level due to
sea-level rise. This is a costly option, but the benefits of protecting high-
value property can also be quite high.
Increasing fresh water supplies,
purification treatment capacity to
offset saline intrusion of coastal
aquifers and estuaries, flooding and
storm surges - Supporting measures would include developing alternative water supply
sources through the construction of new storage reservoirs, developing
new uncontaminated groundwater supplies and inter-basin transfers,
flood-proofing water treatment and purification facilities, and increasing
the capacity of both as needed.
Protection of coastal and estuarine
ecosystems - By installing pumps and building dikes, sea-walls and other structures to
hold back (and/or drain) sea-water, storm surges from coastal environ-
mental resources. An individual site approach is necessary. It should be
noted that once an ecosystem is lost – especially diverse ecosystems – it
may be difficult or impossible to re-create conditions that will allow it to
flourish again
Abandonment of low-lying coastal
property and islands and relocation
of displaced economic activity to
higher ground - A form of long-run autonomous adaption that can be encouraged by
the public sector through tax policies to allow more rapid loss of value of
vulnerable assets (if needed), land use zoning, and planning for invest-
ment in, and construction of, public works infrastructure and highways
for urban development.
Table 5-4: Adaptation options to adjust to sea-level rise