Coastal zone, key area for adaptation to sea level rise. The Gulf of Gdansk case

Climate change and its consequences, including rising ocean temperature and sea level rise are well scientifically documented. The changes are especially severe for coastal communities, which are estimated to have reached c. 50% of the world’s population. Using an example of the Gulf of Gdansk region, which is of European importance, due to the presence of two major Baltic ports and global tourism, we explore, how sea related threats may affect the region and we analyse how the three major cities are prepared to these threats. The four city developmental strategies and an additional document, an “umbrella strategy” focusing on climate change threats do not consider sea level rise and more frequent storm surges as threats. The sea level rise is briefly discussed in the fourth document. The adaptation plan, an appendix to the document, mentions sea level rise, but the discussion of the problem is indirect and involves some examples of adaptation actions in loosely similar environmental conditions. The adaptation plan, in fact includes a list of possible threats, rather than a detailed discussion of the suggestions of the measures to be undertaken. For comparison, we present a multilevel approach, which is effectively run in the Port of Rotterdam and argue that such approach should be undertaken in the studied region. We conclude that despite years of education on climate change, the problem is still not recognised and is underrepresented in practical measures of the studied region. We also provide hints on how to overcome this situation.