Working Lives Research Institute
Graeme Evans (Cities) and Graham Walters (LMBS)
Coastal areas are under intense pressure from both continuing high levels of human mobility and urbanization and climate related changes, notably from sea level movements and intensified salt water intrusions. In response to these challenges, the European Union’s Framework 7 programme has commissioned a major international study of the impacts of human mobility and urbanization on coastal environmental systems. Case studies will be will be undertaken in two coastal zones in each of 8 countries, in order to produce a robust analytical model, comprehensive policy guidelines and best practice recommendations that take into the social equity implications of sustainable development.
The UK case studies will be Thames Gateway and the Portsmouth urban area
SECOA aims to:
(i) identify the conflicts between different land uses, especially their negative externalities
(ii) analyse the impacts of human mobility and urbanization on the environment
(iii) create models to synthesize the complexity of the different social, economic and environmental systems
(iv) examine changes in these impacts under different future scenarios
(v) recommend policies and identify best practices to manage these impacts that also address the social equity dimensions of sustainability.
Integrated data bases will be created for each case study city utilizing state of the art GIS techniques. These will be analysed to identify the key relationships between different land uses, competing resource needs, and the impacts of human activity on environmental systems. Working with local stakeholders in each case, the project will focus particularly on effective management of conflicts, efficient use of resources, innovative forms of institutional arrangements, capacity building, and policy and practice recommendations.
UK, Belgium, India, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Vietnam
Overall UK co-ordinator:
Professor Allan Williams
Working Lives Research Institute