Coasts

From the tropics to the poles, half the world’s population lives on coasts where the impacts of climate change are most intense. Storms are more frequent and severe. Sea-level rise causes prolonged, catastrophic flooding. Melting permafrost causes houses to collapse and roads to slump. National security infrastructure is threatened—and human lives, economies, and livelihoods hang in the balance. ERI focuses on interactions between people, infrastructure, and the changing environment—and on understanding natural processes, risks, and social equity issues. Our teams are working to restore ecosystems, understand and design resilient coasts, and inform policy and decision-making. We partner with rural and urban communities that face increasing risks from climate change to create a more resilient and sustainable future.