These trends provide challenges to the intrinsic values coastal environments offer as well as the values held by the communities located in these areas. Coastal ecosystems are among the most productive on earth. It has been estimated, for example, that over 90% of the planet's living and nonliving resources are found within a few hundred kilometers of the coast. These valuable natural assets are seriously threatened by coastal development pressures, coastal sprawl and coastal pollution. Preserving the natural values we associate with coastal regions will be a significant challenge on a planet whose population is projected to reach 8 billion or more people.

Compounding these challenges are the prospects of the vulnerabilities these regions face. Among these are climate change, sea level rise, new maritime security needs associated with increase transportation by sea, and the ever present danger of extreme events such as tropical storms and tsunamis. Accordingly, it is timely to address these topics in depth as we bring together public officials, nongovernmental organization, citizens and natural and social scientists to consider the values and vulnerabilities of coastal regions around the globe.

Approximately 2.7 billion people--over 40% of the world’s total population--currently live in coastal cities. In 1995 alone, an estimated 50 million people migrated to the coastal zones of the United States. Combined with increasing birth rate and life expectancy, as well as future climate change, the escalating strain on public resources means that coastal city managers face unprecedented challenges. The IOI Coastal Cities Summit aims to bring together coastal city leaders, managers, and academics to discuss environmental, social, economic, and public policy challenges and viable solutions.

The organisation invites you to participate in a survey on what you consider to be the main policy problems/issues and potential solutions that you face as a leader in your coastal city. The survey results will be directly integrated into the Coastal Cities Summit program, to ensure that it is closely tailored to the needs of the local officials of coastal cities attending the Summit.

Click here for the conference programme.

The Coastal Cities Summit will occur in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA in November 17-20, 2008, and will be organized by the International Ocean Institute - USA.