Overview

• At the first Forum Küstenforschung in Hannover on 11–12 September, researchers call for moving from knowledge to implementation through broad stakeholder coordination and clear prioritization.
• Measurements show sea level rising about 4–5 millimeters per year, with projections of roughly 1.00–1.10 meters by 2100 and possibly around 2.00 meters in the 22nd century.
• Traditional defenses have limits, with potential dike heightening of only about 1.0–1.5 meters and costs running into the billions.
• Experts urge pairing hard infrastructure with natural measures such as seagrass meadows, salt marshes, and oyster beds to stabilize coasts and capture sediment.
• Niedersachsen plans roughly €81 million for coastal protection this year under a 70% federal and 30% state cost split as dike groups seek more funding and planners factor sea-level rise into port design and dredging.