Coastal erosion and flooding represent a major threat for the well-being and prosperity of the 70mi Europeans living within 500m from the coastline and their assets of 500- 1000bi€. Lost or seriously impacted area by erosion is estimated to be 15 km2/year. The Nobel Prize laureate UN-IPCC estimates that by 2020 due to Climate Change victims of coastal erosion or flooding will reach 158,000/year, 50% of Europe’s coastal wetlands is expected to disappear as a result of sea level rise at a cost of 5,400mi€/year. According to the EC EUROSION project, the regulatory EIA framework, knowledge base, and traditional measures for erosion control have been weak or inappropriate. COASTANCE will use innovative techniques for mid-long term ICZM Master Plans capitalizing on the Good Practices developed under several European projects (INTERREGIIIB & IIIC-RFO). Its innovation is that it focuses on those practices that resulted from thorough scientific study and understanding of coastal erosion phenomena obtained by previous experience. The concrete results -Realistic Submersion Risk Forecast Systems, Specific EIA/SEA Procedures, Concrete ICZM Master Plans and Officials’ Training- will be used as Governance and Public Policy Tools for erosion control by regional, national and EU administrations. To ensure the project ‘s durability, partners will form a Structural Data Infrastructure Community (SDIC) based on the INSPIRE directive and a European Group according to the EU Regulation 1082/2006.
