Resilient and Liveable Coastal Communities

Coastal communities across the Baltic Sea region face a unique set of shared challenges—including climate change impacts, sea-level rise, demographic shifts, unsettled security situation, and pressures on local economies and ecosystems. This session will explore how coastal communities can enhance their resilience and liveability through coordinated responses, drawing on both local innovation and transnational cooperation.

The discussion will highlight practical solutions and policies that address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of integrated planning and community engagement. Special attention will be given to the role of the VASAB Vision 2040 and the VASAB and HELCOM Common Recommendations for Spatial Planning of the Coastal Zone in the Baltic Sea Region, which offer strategic frameworks for sustainable coastal development. These tools not only provide guidance for national and regional authorities but are also highly relevant for local decision-makers aiming to align with broader territorial development goals.

Through shared experiences and policy insights, this session will foster dialogue on how local communities can leverage regional policy frameworks to support long-term resilience, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how collaborative governance and targeted actions can contribute to thriving coastal areas across the Baltic Sea region.

Session aim: To explore shared challenges and practical solutions for building resilient and liveable coastal communities in the Baltic Sea Region, while examining how regional policy frameworks can support local territorial development efforts.

This session will explore:

• What are coastal communities in the Baltic Sea region currently facing?
• How can local coastal communities implement practical, scalable solutions to improve resilience and liveability?
• In what ways VASAB Vision 2040 and the VASAB and HELCOM Common Recommendations for Spatial Planning of the Coastal Zone support local and regional coastal development?
• How can national and EU-level policies better align with local needs and actions in coastal areas?
• What examples of successful cross-border or local initiatives can inspire future cooperation and implementation?

Target audience: All-level spatial planning practitioners and policy makers, coastal community stakeholders (local inhabitants, NGOs, etc.)

Lead organiser:
VASAB

Keywords: Coastal communities, coastal development, collaborative governance, coastal resilience