Edinburgh Coastal Change Adaptation Plan

Overview

We are currently looking at how the coast of Edinburgh will change in the future.  We know that climate change will affect our coasts and as a Council, we are required to plan and get ready for these potential impacts. 

Almost half of the Scottish population lives within 8km of the coast, and billions of pounds of assets are currently being protected by artificial and natural coastal defences. Climate change is predicted to lead to sea level rise and more intense storms which would threaten the coast through flooding and erosion. We are already seeing some of these effects today and we must prepare for them now.

We need to prepare for these expected changes in a proactive and strategic way and this is part of that process.   

The Coastal Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP)

The Edinburgh CCAP is a strategic scheme to manage our coast. The council is currently looking to understand what coastal management approaches are most appropriate for different lengths of the Edinburgh coastline based on local knowledge and insight.

For more information on the CCAP process please see Coastal Change Adaptation Plan Guidance by Scottish Government (2023).

Your voice matters

This form is an early-stage conversation. We want to hear from you before management decisions are made. Further and more detailed consultation is also planned for 2026.