Climate resilient adaptation of coastal amenities for wellbeing.

Abstract

Blue spaces are recognised as vital public resources that support human health and wellbeing through pathways such as physical activity, psychological restoration and social connection. Coastal environments are especially distinctive for their multisensory stimuli, expansive vistas and cultural significance, with benefits shaped by environmental quality, accessibility and usability. Climate change threatens these benefits via extreme events, such as storm surges and flooding, and gradual processes, including rising sea levels, erosion and warming temperatures, which can also alter people's perceptions, engagement patterns and cultural connections. A conceptual framework is proposed to explore the mechanisms through which climate change affects coastal amenities. This framework offers a structured approach to understanding how environmental processes, interventions and social factors interact to shape health and wellbeing outcomes, and identifies where, why and at what scales adaptation interventions can be most effectively applied. Adaptation measures can help sustain wellbeing benefits under climate hazards by reinforcing positive feedbacks, such as stewardship and investment in amenities, while mitigating negative feedbacks from environmental degradation or overuse. Climate-informed adaptation of coastal amenities, integrating ecological, social and governance considerations, is essential to preserve quality, access, usability and the equitable delivery of health benefits. The framework therefore offers both a theoretical basis for understanding climate-wellbeing interactions and a practical tool to support internationally relevant interventions, policy development and co-designed justice-sensitive adaptation strategies that sustain the health, cultural and social value of blue spaces under climate change.