Circles of Coastal Sustainability: A Framework for Coastal Management

Natália M. P. de Alencar, Martin Le Tissier, Shona K. Paterson and Alice Newton
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Natália M. P. de Alencar: CIMA, Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
Martin Le Tissier: MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, P43-C573 Cork, Ireland
Shona K. Paterson: College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
Alice Newton: CIMA, Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-27

Abstract: The coastal zone is a space where many social, economic, and political activities intersect with natural processes. In this paper, we present an adaptation of the method of ‘Circles of Sustainability’, used to provide a visual assessment of indicators that define sustainability profiles for cities. It is used as a basis for a ‘Circles of Coastal Sustainability’ (CCS) framework that can be used at multiple spatial scales to assess indicators of critical processes that facilitate/constrain sustainability of the world’s coastal zones. The development of such a framework can support management by identifying key features that influence environmental sustainability and human well-being. CCS presents a holistic assessment of four interdependent boundary domains: Environment and Ecology, Social and Cultural, Economics, and Governance and Policy. This approach improves its utility and usability for decision-makers and researchers. CCS adds to existing assessment frameworks that are often focused on particular themes and/or domains that confine their utility to the context of sustainable development and the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which demand an inherently holistic and integrated evaluation. CCS is a holistic framework designed to assess the boundaries to sustainability for socio-ecological systems at multiple scales for the world’s coasts.

Keywords: coastal management; social–ecological systems; sustainability; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4886-:d:371856

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