Output
The output of this Working Group will be a Future Science Brief expected in late 2027 or early/mid 2028.
Background
Europe’s coastline is around 68,000 km long and nearly half of the EU population lives less than 50 km from the sea. As a result, Europe’s coasts are both highly impacted by human pressures and can have a very large impact on society including through rising sea levels, flooding, marine heatwaves and geohazards. Additionally, Arctic and high-latitude coastal regions are undergoing particularly rapid environmental transformations due to climate change, yet their role in global climate feedback mechanisms and coastal dynamics remains insufficiently understood. Melting sea ice, permafrost thaw, and increasing storm intensities in these areas are reshaping Ocean dynamics, with cascading impacts on global climate and coastal resilience. Reducing risks and improving lives requires a better understanding of the coastal system, in particular of the interactions between the Ocean, climate, and coasts.
Digital Ocean Twins and related technologies can help us better understand coastal processes. They can predict hazardous events and their impacts by integrating interactions between biological, physical and socio-ecological processes, utilising real-time data where available.
The European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO) was first presented by the European Commission in 2022. Given Europe’s large coastal population and increasing coastal impacts from climate change, it is essential to ensure accurate representation of coastal processes in the EDITO to assess socio-economic risks, explore trade-offs between different uses of the coastal space, and support inclusive, evidence-based decision-making. In addition, it is essential to ensure accurate representation of Arctic and high-latitude regions, which are currently underrepresented in Digital Twin frameworks.
Working group objectives
This Working Group will produce a Future Science Brief that will provide strategic guidance to policymakers, funders, and practitioners on the state-of-the art for understanding and predicting coastal processes in Europe and integrating them into the EDITO. The Working Group will build on the recommendations of EMB’s Position Paper on Building Coastal Resilience in Europe, while expanding the scope to highlight digital innovation and operational forecasting. Additionally, by including Arctic and high-latitude coastal dynamics, the Working Group will provide insights on Arctic coastal changes and associated coastal hazards in Europe. This will inform policymakers on climate-resilient coastal management, adaptation strategies, and infrastructure planning.
Meetings
The Working Group is expected to kick-off in September 2026.
Working Group Members
To be communicated soon.
Contact at European Marine Board Secretariat: Ana Rodriguez Email
Image credit: E.U. Copernicus Marine Service