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Coastal issues
UKCIP work
Useful links & organisations
Case studies & projects
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The UK coastal zone is an important focus for environmental, economic and social activity:
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Around 30% of the coast (of England and Wales) is developed
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Around 30 million people live in urban areas in coastal areas
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Around 40% of manufacturing industry is situated on or near the coast
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Around 60% of the best agricultural land is 5 m or less above sea level
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Around 90% of our trade comes and goes through sea ports
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Tourism based on coastal recreation is a significant contributor to local and regional economies.
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Coastal areas support a highly varied set of ecosystems including internationally significant wetlands and sites for major bird populations, and 10% of notified nature reserves are located near the coast
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Many parts of the UK coast are an important geological or cultural resource
Global sea level is predicted to rise by up to a metre over the next hundred years as a result of climate change. Sea level rise threatens to flood low lying land, accelerate coastal erosion, and encourage saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers. Increasing sea surface temperatures and sea water acidity could have major consequences for marine ecosystems around the UK.
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