Climate change and coastal policy: the need to address erosion-flooding interactions for effective coastal risk management

Global climate change is giving rise to a world characterised by novel human-environment interactions. At the coast, higher than average population growth, concentrated within static conurbations means that climatic changes here are likely to generate high-risk outcomes. Coastal erosion and flooding are two such outcomes with the potential to cause trillions of pounds worth of losses in the near future. Many studies have sought to quantify the extent of erosion and flooding in various locations. However, there is a lack of research into the interaction between erosion and flooding. This article explores the importance of erosion-flooding interaction for effective coastal risk management policy. Blakeney Point, a mixed sand-gravel barrier on the UK's North Norfolk coast, is used to explore three expressions of erosion-flooding interaction: the role of coastal morphology, the importance of shoreline position, and the occurrence of extreme storm events. At Blakeney Point, and elsewhere, the potential for unforeseen risk-generating scenarios suggests that erosion- flooding interaction ought to be incorporated into future coastal risk management policy.