applied in Egypt? P. Michael Link 1,2,3 Jrgen Scheffran 1,2 1 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

• P. Michael Link 1,2,3

Jürgen Scheffran 1,2

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

1. Sea level changes in the European North Sea 2. Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea Area 3. Trilateral Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4. Sea level changes in the Eastern Mediterranean 5. Possibilities for applications of adaptive measures in Egypt

Outline

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

The Wadden Sea coasts of the European North Sea

(Bungenstock & Weerts, 2010)

• The North Sea covers 750000 km2

in Northwestern Europe

• There are seven riparians:

GB, DK, N, D, NL, B, F

• Major water exchange with the

Atlantic Ocean due to tides

• Heavily used water body for many

different human activities

• The coasts in the Southeastern part
• f the North Sea (German Bight) are

unique: Wadden Sea

• Wadden Sea extends from Esbjerg

(DK) to Den Helder (NL)

• more than 500 km long
• UNESCO world heritage
• high ecological value for migrating

birds

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Historic development of the sea level in the North Sea

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Regional sea level changes in the past decades

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Elevation of the coastal areas around the North Sea

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Projected development of the sea level in the North Sea

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Projected development of the sea level in the North Sea

(Nicholls et al., 2006)

country affected area of a SLR of 1m % of the total country area population at risk Netherlands 20277 km2 48.4 5 139 000 Germany 13910 km2 4.0 1 565 000 Poland 3781 km2 1.2 345 000 Denmark 3177 km2 7.4 155 000 United Kingdom 2540 km2 1.0 372 000 Belgium 1148 km2 3.8 262 000

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

1. Sea level changes in the European North Sea 2. Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea Area 3. Trilateral Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4. Sea level changes in the Eastern Mediterranean 5. Possibilities for applications of adaptive measures in Egypt

Outline

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea area: mainland protection with dikes

(Wikiwand, 2015)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea area: beach nourishment

• In many islands of the Wadden

Sea area sand is added to beaches as protective measure

• In Germany, beach nourishment is

mainly used on the islands of Sylt and Norderney

• In the Netherlands, it is general

practice

• Beach nourishment widens beaches and protects the structures along the

coast as long as the sand remains in place

• However, it is expensive and must be continuously repeated
• Also, it negatively affects the existing ecosystems at the beaches as they are

buried below the added masses of sand

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea area: storm surge barriers

• These are effective ways to prevent

storm surges near the mouths of rivers

• The Delta Works with the Easter Scheldt

Storm Surge Barrier is the largest coastal protection project in the world (9 km long)

• The Eider Barrage (D) is the largest

coastal protection structure in Germany

• Entire water bodies such as rivers and

lakes can be shut off from tidal influences relieving pressures during extreme events

• They are extremely costly and need

constant maintenance

• They are at fixed height and difficult to

upgrade if necessary

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea area: sedimentary growth of islands

(Deicke & Carius, 2011)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

1. Sea level changes in the European North Sea 2. Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea Area 3. Trilateral Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4. Sea level changes in the Eastern Mediterranean 5. Possibilities for applications of adaptive measures in Egypt

Outline

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Infrastructure for energy production in the North Sea

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Areas for wind energy production in Northern Germany

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Plan coordinating the multiple uses of the German North Sea

(BSH, 2007)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

The trilateral agreement on the protection of the Wadden Sea

• Founded in 1978 to protect the Wadden Sea as a single ecological entity
• Guiding principle: to “achieve, as far as possible, a natural and

sustainable ecosystem in which natural processes proceed in an undisturbed way”

• Joint declaration first signed in 1982 and updated in 2010
• Goals of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation:
• protects and conserves the Wadden Sea as an ecological entity through

common policies and management.

• monitors and assesses the quality of the Wadden Sea ecosystem in collaboration

with national and regional authorities and scientific institutions as a basis for effective protection and management.

• cooperates internationally with other marine sites on protection,

conservation and management.

• engages the public in the protection of the Wadden Sea through awareness-raising

activities and environmental education.

• secures the sustainable development of the Wadden Sea with respect to its natural

and cultural values.

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

The concept of coastal ecosystem services as tool for coastal management

human drivers of ecosystem change ecosystem structure and functions values ecosystem goods and services

economic valuation production function

• First mentioned in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)
• Categorization of CES:
• regulating services (e.g. coastal protection)
• provisioning services (e.g. marine resources, biodiversity)
• cultural services (e.g. recreation, “Heimat”)
• supporting services (e.g. nutrient storage)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

1. Sea level changes in the European North Sea 2. Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea Area 3. Trilateral Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4. Sea level changes in the Eastern Mediterranean 5. Possibilities for applications of adaptive measures in Egypt

Outline

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Elevation levels along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast

(Frihy & El-Sayed, 2013)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Vulnerabilities of the different parts of the Egyptian coast

sector vulnerability Northwest coast: coastal plain vulnerable only in extreme events or safe Northwest coast: low-lying beaches highly vulnerable Alexandria: coastal plain vulnerable only in extreme events or safe Alexandria: low land vulnerable only in extreme events Alexandria: low-lying beaches highly vulnerable Nile Delta: around Rosetta extension moderately or hardly vulnerable Nile Delta: west of Damietta port moderately or hardly vulnerable Nile Delta: coastal lagoon barrier highly or moderately vulnerable Nile Delta: sand dunes safe Nile Delta: accretional beaches safe Nile Delta: low-lying beaches highly vulnerable North Sinai: coastal plain vulnerable only in extreme events or safe North Sinai: Bardawil Lagoon hardly vulnerable North Sinai: flash flood drains vulnerable only in extreme events North Sinai: low-lying beaches highly vulnerable

(adapted from Frihy and El-Sayed, 2012)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Land subsidence in the Nile Delta

(Frihy & El-Sayed, 2013)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Impacts of sea-level rise on the population and agriculture in the Nile Delta region

• salt water intrusion into

aquifers

• losses of arable farm land
• possible relocation of more

than 1 million people from Alexandria

• extensive damages to land and

infrastructure (e.g. harbors)

• threat to food security of a

steadily growing Egyptian population

• conflicts concerning the

allocation of water from the Nile

Source:FitzGerald et al.2008, based on Simonett & Sestini 2007

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

1. Sea level changes in the European North Sea 2. Coastal protection in the Wadden Sea Area 3. Trilateral Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4. Sea level changes in the Eastern Mediterranean 5. Possibilities for applications of adaptive measures in Egypt

Outline

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Types of coastal protection in the Nile Delta region

(Frihy & El-Sayed, 2013)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Risks to the Egyptian coast with regard to sea level rise

population economy environment effectiveness of protection Northwest coast low risk moderate risk low risk low Alexandria moderate risk high risk moderate risk moderate Nile Delta moderate risk high risk high risk moderate North Sinai low risk moderate risk low risk low

Source: Link/Kominek/Scheffran 2013 (adapted from Frihy and El-Sayed, 2012)

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

European concepts of coastal planning for Egypt?

• Egyptian coasts are as diverse as those of the North Sea
• sea level changes in Eastern Mediterranean are even more pronounced

than in the Southern North Sea

• subsidence is a big problem adding to the actual SLR
• complete diking is too expensive and does not pay tribute to the variety of

coastal zones in Egypt

• fractioning of protective infrastructure of coastal zones has to be reduced
• beach nourishments are useful in touristic hot spots along the coast but

cannot be applied in ecologically sensitive areas

• reduction in sediment load of the Nile River is problematic in the long run
• protection can be made easier by devising a land use plan of the coastal

areas, considering all potential uses by humans and by the environment

• economic valuation of these uses by applying coastal ecosystem services

can be useful to determine priorities for use

• even the military can benefit from intact and adequately protected coasts

• P. Michael Link: Adaptation to sea level rise in the European Wadden Sea: can promising approaches be applied in Egypt?

Cairo Climate Talks, Cairo, Egypt, June 02, 2015

Thank you for your attention!

• Dr. P. Michael Link

Research Group Climate Change and Security Institute of Geography Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability University of Hamburg Partner in the KlimaCampus Hamburg Grindelberg 7, # 2014 D-20144 Hamburg, Germany eMail: michael.link@uni-hamburg.de www.clisec-hamburg.de