Together for Climate-Resilient Baltic Sea Beaches

11 March 2025

On March 11, 2025, EUCC – The Coastal Union Germany e.V. invited participants to the second workshop within the framework of the Beach-SOS project in Warnemünde. Fifteen experts from tourism, administration, NGO and science came together under the motto: “Understanding Challenges, Recognizing Opportunities, Acting Together” to discuss and evaluate the impacts of climate change on beaches and coastal tourism.

David Cabana, scientist at the Helmholtz Centre Hereon (GERICS) and coordinator of the Beach-SOS project, opened the workshop with a presentation of results from a recent Baltic-wide survey of professionals in beach management offering valuable insights into the perception and communication of climate change impacts needs of beach managers in the Baltic Sea region.

After a review of the first workshop, participants worked on practical indicators for measuring climate changes on beaches in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, such as perceived temperature, UV radiation, and beach visitor numbers. The indicators were assessed and prioritized based on their suitability, applicability, cost-effectiveness, and transferability.

The selected indicators are practical and easy to understand, which increases their relevance for future adaptation measures. A key takeaway from the workshop was that it is important for stakeholders to define clear metrics with specific threshold values that can serve as future reference points. Therefore, it will remain essential to scientifically monitor the effects of climate change and to communicate them to local municipalities.

What happens next?

The developed set of indicators will be tested and further developed with pilot communities in Germany, Denmark, and Latvia. Based on this foundation, adaptation measures can be determined, and progress measured — steps that are necessary for resilient beaches and a sustainable tourism industry.

Thanks to all participants, project partners, and the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde!

The BEACH-SOS project supports coastal municipalities in adapting to climate change and is co-financed by the Interreg Baltic Sea Programme 2021-2027.