Coastal settlements can 'avoid' new flood and erosion risks by preventing development in areas exposed to current and future coastal hazards. Where development already exists, settlements can 'accommodate' climate change impacts through, among other things, land-use zoning, raising ground or buildings above storm surge levels, installing flood-proofing measures within and outside properties, and early warning systems. Improving the capacity of urban drainage, incorporating nature-based solutions within urban areas and managing land upstream of settlements to reduce runoff from the hinterland reduces the risk of compound flood events. More radically, land can also be reclaimed from the sea, which offers opportunities for further development but has impacts on the natural system and wider implications for the trajectory of development.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report