Sea Level Rise in Europe: Summary for Policy Makers

The European Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise (KH-SLR), an initiative by JPI Climate and JPI Oceans, has developed its first Assessment Report to address the challenges posed by sea level rise (SLR) in Europe. This report, preceded by a series of targeted surveys and workshops with researchers and stakeholders (e.g. coastal decision makers), has synthesized the current scientific knowledge on SLR drivers, impacts and policies at local, national, and European basin scales. It provides additional value by more in-depth and region-specific analyses on local sea level changes, compared to relevant global assessments such as by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In addition, it identified critical knowledge gaps supporting the development of actionable information. The Summary for Policy Makers (SPM) distills the key findings of the report, presenting information specific to each European basin (Mediterranean and Black Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Atlantic and Arctic basins). It highlights region-specific trends, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts, while also orienting future requirements.