Management Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Coastal Regions: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background: By 2050, most of the global human population will live in coastal regions, and the climatic impacts on these areas represent a significant concern for governments, private sector companies, and societies. Thus, environmental management of coastal regions plays a central role in the global climate agenda. Methods: The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR). This included the construction of networks of related topics, time series analysis, literature mapping, and the identification of research gaps. The databases used were Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus. The inclusion and exclusion criteria encompassed articles published between 2014 and 2023, off-topic articles, unavailable articles, or paid access articles. At the end, 96 studies were included in this RSL. Results: The results revealed a predominance of studies addressing climate management in coastal regions, primarily focused on adaptation strategies. However, there is a notable deficiency in studies that address integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies. Time series analysis predicted an increase in the focus on coastal management and climate change in the coming years. Conclusion: The research underscores the central role of coastal management in addressing climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encourages multi-level management, integrating government officials, business leaders, and civil society in the development of more effective practices for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

1. Introduction

Climatic impacts in coastal regions, which are often major socioeconomic centers, can cause significant setbacks to human development worldwide. Recent projections indicate that, by 2050, hundreds of urban centers located in densely populated coastal regions will face flood risks caused by extreme climate events, with examples including Santos in Brazil, Cotonou in Benin, and Kolkata in India. Furthermore, by 2100, if current greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels persist, the exposure to climate risks in densely populated coastal areas is expected to double [1].

Similarly, recent projections estimate that 70% of the global human population will reside in coastal cities by 2050. Historically, human societies have predominantly been established and developed near maritime coasts [2]. A large proportion of the global human population currently lives in coastal regions, making the understanding of climate risks to which people and businesses in these areas are exposed an urgent and essential necessity [3,4,5].

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were defined by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda to ensure human well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. The prominent role of cities in achieving this agenda is emphasized in SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities [6,7]. Climate management in coastal cities plays a central role in promoting the SDGs, particularly in ensuring the sustainability of these cities in the face of extreme climate events [8,9].

Coastal cities worldwide are experiencing the adverse effects of accelerated global climate change, which have led to complex dynamics involving negative environmental, social, and economic impacts, exacerbated by the specific vulnerabilities of these regions [10,11,12,13]. These direct and indirect impacts from climate events on coastal regions, affecting both individuals and businesses, are alarming and significantly more severe compared to those in inland areas [14]. Many coastal cities around the world face severe threats from rising sea levels, with some experiencing existential risks to their long-term viability. Consequently, the adoption of adaptation and mitigation strategies to minimize these impacts from adverse climate events in such regions is increasingly imperative.

In this context, adaptation and mitigation strategies to counter adverse climatic effects in coastal regions often represent a formidable challenge, largely dependent on local governance to address the issue. This requires the joint participation of municipal and national authorities, research and educational institutions, and private sector organizations operating in these areas [15]. The integration of private and public sector management is justified by the critical role that corporate and governmental actions play in reducing global GHG emissions and achieving the climate targets outlined in the Paris Agreement [16,17].

Given this, and considering the breadth of studies and the significance of research on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in coastal regions, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is proposed to address the following research question: What is the state of the art in studies investigating the role of management in coastal regions in developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate challenges?

Based on this guiding question, the objectives of this study are defined. General objective: to identify empirical evidence on the role of coastal region management, including the various actors involved, in the development of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Specific objectives: to identify the main related constructs; to explore this field’s contributions to the SDGs; and to develop a research agenda for future studies.

Potential contributions of this study include advancing the understanding of the relationship between strategic climate management practices and the climate challenges faced by governments, businesses, and societies in coastal regions. Additionally, the study aims to highlight related themes, offering insights that may aid in the development of more comprehensive theoretical frameworks. By identifying this field’s contributions to the SDGs, the research can shed light on the role of management in promoting the sustainable agenda. Finally, the study proposes the development of a future research agenda, encouraging studies on the governmental and corporate role in addressing climate change in maritime coastal regions.

The following sections present the methodological procedures adopted for the SLR; the analysis and discussion of the results, including the identification and analysis of related constructs, this field’s contribution to the SDGs, and the construction of an agenda for future studies, considering the progression of the research field and gas in the literature; and the study’s final considerations.

2. Materials and Methods

This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative phases. It is characterized as a systematic literature review (SLR), whose primary purpose is to synthesize the body of scientific literature in the field under analysis. This is achieved through specific protocols that ensure a logical and structured process for reviewing a significant collection of studies. To address the guiding research question, the methodological steps are defined and illustrated in Figure 1.

The study’s steps are defined in two main phases. The first phase involved defining the criteria and strategies for conducting the SLR, while the second phase encompassed the steps of search, selection, and analysis, as detailed below:

(1)

Delimitation of the Research Question

As highlighted in the introduction section of this study, this SLR is guided by the following research question: What is the state of the art in studies investigating the role of management in coastal regions for the development of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies?

(2)

Selection of Databases

The databases selected for the systematic literature review were Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The choice of these databases is justified by their relevance to the academic field, the quality of the studies they include, their extensive coverage, and the possibility of applying the necessary filters for optimal article selection.

(3)

Definition of Search Strategies, Criteria, and Keywords

The search strategies adopted were as follows: defining a time frame to select more recent studies while enabling a longitudinal analysis of the topic. Additionally, defining search terms based on their consolidation in the international literature to broaden the scope of the searches.

The criteria adopted were as follows: (1) identification of international and national studies; (2) a time frame covering the last ten complete years (2014–2023); (3) inclusion of only articles published in journals, excluding book chapters and studies published solely in conference proceedings; and (4) open access to the works. Studies whose authors’ subscription access did not allow them to view them were excluded from the study for this reason. The search terms used were “coastal management” and “climate change”, requiring at least one term to appear in the article title and the other in the abstract or keywords.

Other attempts with different combinations of terms were made, including those that combined a few terms at a time: “Coastal Zone Management”, “Coastal Risk Management”, “Global Warming”, “Climate Adaptation”, and “Climate Mitigation”. However, the results did not report significant numbers of studies, or the corpus of studies identified, in general, fell outside the scope of the research. Despite this, these constructs appeared in significant part during the analysis of correlated topics. Three authors contributed to this stage of the research, the authors discussed with each other during the study selection stage, whenever there was disagreement about which studies should be included or excluded based on the eligibility criteria.

(4)

Database Search

The database search began on 20 September 2024 and concluded on 15 October 2024. During this period, the processes of searching, accessing, verifying, downloading, and removing duplicate articles were carried out. Three reviewers worked on this process.

(5)

Reading, Selection, and Analysis

At this stage, after the initial selection based on abstracts, a full reading of the remaining studies was conducted, followed by a critical analysis of the research. Considering the corpus of studies, after reading them in full, we selected which studies would be cited in the corpus of the analysis and which would be presented only in the aggregated data of the SLR, since the limitations of the research structure itself and also the limitations for publication did not allow the citation of the complete corpus of selected studies. The selection of articles adhered to the criteria listed above, involving a preliminary review of abstracts and keywords to identify studies aligned with the scope of this research. Four reviewers worked on this process.

In addition, this research presented the relationship between the theme under analysis and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which was carried out during the reading of the studies. During this stage, research was identified in relation to one or more SDGs and then, based on the number of relationships identified, the graph Contributions of the Topic to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was constructed. Citing the studies highlighted in the discussion of the literature on the contributions of this field of research to the SDGs.

Thus, the categorization was based on the contributions of climate strategies in coastal regions to issues related to the SDGs identified in the articles. The emphasis at this stage of the research was on reading the study’s contributions, although it is not restricted to this section alone. The exclusion criteria were cases in which the contributions did not mention the terms contained in any SDG. This stage was carried out by two authors and reviewed by another two authors, with a view to ensuring greater rigor in the classification carried out.

The open-source software R version 2024.09.0+375 [18] was employed to generate graphical resources, essential for better visualization and analysis of the study’s findings. Time series analysis was utilized to predict the future trend in the number of studies on this topic in the coming years. The projected model was calibrated using the “auto.arima” function from the R software version 2024.09.0+375 to identify the ideal parameters for capturing the patterns of the time series.

The development of the heat map was the second stage in the construction of the agenda for future studies. This stage highlighted the lack of studies by actor (governments, companies, and communities) and by type of climate management, adaptation, and mitigation strategy. The scoring of the items considered the presence of the actors and strategies per article, and the same article could score more than once, for more than one actor, or even for both climate management strategies. Finally, based on the gaps identified in the studies, an agenda for future research was constructed.

(6)

Application of Eligibility Criteria

At the conclusion of the reading and analysis stages, the eligibility criteria were reviewed to identify studies that did not sufficiently align with the scope of this research. The following section addresses the results, discussion, and analysis of the articles included in the study. Three reviewers worked on this process.

3. Results and Discussion

This section of the analysis and discussion of the research results is divided into the following topics: main related constructs; contributions of climate strategies adopted by businesses in coastal regions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and a research agenda for future studies. The definition of these topics was based on the general objective and specific objectives of the study. Below, Figure 2 shows the PRISMA flowchart for the selection of studies included in this SLR [19].

The initial search returned 37 articles from the Scopus database, 368 articles from Web of Science, and 219 articles from ScienceDirect, totaling 624 studies. After removing duplicate articles, 561 articles remained. Subsequently, during the title, abstract, and keyword review stages, 143 articles were identified as unrelated to the topic, and 278 could not be accessed due to file unavailability or paywall restrictions. After this stage, 140 articles remained. Finally, the eligibility criteria were reviewed, resulting in the final selection of 96 studies. The following section presents a discussion of the main related topics associated with the central terms of this research.

As explained in the methodological stage of defining the search strategies, criteria, and keywords, open access through the institutional signature of the authors’ institutions of origin was a criterion for selecting the studies, and articles that did not allow full access to the study were excluded. This exclusion certainly has an influence on the results of this study. Despite this, the corpus of studies analyzed represents a significant portion, in sample terms, when compared to an analysis that also included studies with paid or unavailable access.

3.1. Topics Related to Two Selected Issues: “Coastal Management” and “Climate Change”

This first topic of the results analysis graphically represents the main topics related to the central constructs of the study, as well as the frequency of the terms and the levels of association between them. The network of related topics was generated using the open-source software R version 2024.09.0+375 and was based on the keywords from the studies, considering their frequency and the co-occurrence of constructs in the keywords of the same study. The size of the term in the graph indicates its frequency in the studies. The lines represent the associations between terms, and their thickness reflects the frequency of these associations in the studies.

This section of analysis was motivated by the need to understand, in an integrated manner, the relationship between businesses, coastal management, and climate change, highlighting the main constructs that connect these topics. Instead of an independent analysis, a joint analysis of the terms provides a more holistic view of the phenomenon under study, particularly regarding how corporate and governmental practices interact with coastal management to address climate challenges. Additionally, this section can reveal how different studies define and operationalize the relationship between businesses, governments, societal participation, and coastal management in the context of climate issues.

Despite this, it should be noted that the findings are presented in aggregate form, without detailing the studies by country, because the number of studies by country among the selected studies did not allow for this differentiation in a way that would still allow for the construction of the network of related topics. Figure 3 presents a graphical demonstration of the findings.

The term “climate change” was associated with constructs such as “coastal risk management”, “coastal erosion”, “vulnerability assessment”, “risk perception”, “governance”, “public policy”, and “sea level rise”, among others. Meanwhile, “coastal management” was linked to constructs like “coastal adaptation”, “coastal protection”, “social engagement”, “participatory risk”, and “governance”, among others.

These associations demonstrate the connection between the climate agenda and climate risks, as well as the social role in addressing this issue. Climate policies should integrate actors from different levels of governance, considering their interaction with local communities as participatory agents in the decision-making process [20].

The perception of climate risks encompasses a range of factors, including the cultural aspects of societies and businesses. Coastal areas are often the most affected, with inadequate land use, the absence of effective environmental management, and poor or even non-existent climate risk management among the main contributors to increasing climate risks and vulnerability levels [21]. The perception and assessment of climate risks in coastal regions by various stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and societies, constitute one of the fundamental pillars of climate management in these areas [21,22].

The third major construct highlighted, with a frequency close to the central constructs of the study, was “climate change adaptation”, indicating a greater presence of studies discussing adaptation to climate change in coastal regions compared to analyses focusing on mitigation practices. This reveals a potential deficiency in studies and practices aimed at preventing the problem and a significantly greater emphasis on practices addressing adaptation to adverse climate effects.

Mitigation practices are the only means to curb the rise in global temperatures and, consequently, prevent the progression of climate change. These practices primarily consist of preventive strategies, centered on technology and science, technologies aimed at protecting ecosystems can be highlighted, as well as fostering social and corporate awareness to reduce GHG emissions [23]. Serving a different purpose, climate change adaptation constitutes a necessity and an indispensable pillar of coastal management due to a range of challenges, including sea level rise, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and global temperature increases—realities that decision-makers and managers cannot escape [24].

Among adaptation strategies, structural or physical–environmental strategies stand out, focusing on technological solutions and the application of engineering knowledge; socioeconomic strategies, which include information dissemination, education, and solutions aimed at behavioral changes in individuals, governments, and businesses; and institution-focused strategies, which incorporate public, corporate, and economic policies [25]. Within the scope of adaptation strategies, the historical context must be considered, as a growing body of studies highlights the understanding of past risk-response research as a means to enhance current efforts to adapt to climate change [26].

The discussion on climate change adaptation was mainly associated with “sustainability”, “ambiguity”, “building with nature”, and “management plans”, the latter being linked to “habitat compensation”, “coastal squeeze”, and “habitat directive”. It is impossible to discuss sustainability and business strategies without addressing climate-related issues. Ambiguity stands out as one of the main challenges in decision-making, arising from the incompleteness of knowledge, the unpredictability of climate effects, and the confrontation of diverse information sources. In this context, ambiguity reflects the needs and perspectives of different stakeholders, such as businesses, governments, and coastal societies, in addressing contemporary climate challenges [24].

Adaptation practices to address adverse climate effects must consider risks and uncertainties, as adaptation responses are influenced by decision-makers’ attitudes toward risks and uncertainties, political agendas, and public expectations [27]. Smaller networks of associations between constructs were identified. For instance, “biodiversity” emerged as a central term in discussions about the role of coastal businesses in the climate agenda and their impact on fauna and flora. This was illustrated by associations between “biodiversity” and terms like “wading birds” and “phytoplankton”. Environmental and biological variables show a strong relationship, with trees and aquatic organisms contributing to ecosystem improvements and mitigating negative climate impacts, often caused by anthropogenic interference [28].

Additionally, associations were identified between discussions in the context of the climate agenda and coastal management with terms such as “climate policy”, “territorial development”, and “social representation” in addressing climate risks. These connections highlight the relationship between these terms and “coastal risk”. Social support is a fundamental pillar for the successful development of climate policies targeting risks in coastal regions, emphasizing adaptation strategies and active citizen participation. Despite the evident importance of citizen engagement, inertia in many coastal regions regarding climate challenges, including poor perception among public managers and business leaders, still poses barriers to developing collaborative and integrated coastal management [20,29].

Integrated coastal management has advanced in tandem with growing awareness of the severity of the impact of climate change [30]. The integration of coastal management practices, disaster management, and climate adaptation constitutes a powerful strategy for coastal management, with particular emphasis on the support of state and national governments for local governments [31].

Sea level rise also entered the discussion as one of the main vulnerabilities for businesses located in coastal regions, a fact evidenced by the association of the terms “coastal zone management”, “sea level rise”, and “vulnerability”. There is a growing body of studies addressing the risks posed by sea level rise to coastal communities [32]. In this context, vulnerability refers to the degree of susceptibility to natural risks and social changes in coastal regions, driven by climate change and the consequent rise in ocean levels [33].

There are expectations that global sea level rise and coastal flooding will increase significantly by mid-century. The analysis of coastal regions’ vulnerability to sea level rise encompasses three main dimensions: biophysical exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Therefore, given the clear need for sustainable coastal management, businesses and governments must mobilize to develop adaptive solutions addressing environmental impacts caused by natural disasters and, more critically, the climate stresses derived from anthropogenic actions [33,34,35].

Management practices in coastal regions aimed at mitigating and adapting to the effects of sea level rise caused by climate change involve integrating economic growth with meeting the basic needs of populations, creating livelihood opportunities, reducing vulnerabilities, sustainably managing natural resources, equitably distributing resources, empowering local communities, promoting gender equity, and conserving and improving ecosystems, particularly those in critical states of degradation [36,37].

Decision-making regarding sea level rise in coastal regions involves the values and priorities of local managers, including ecological considerations, tourism expectations, real estate valuation, and aspects related to coastal livelihoods [38]. The direct and indirect impacts of climate change and the consequent sea level rise on coastal tourism pose challenges for governments and businesses, as increased vulnerabilities from these changes may reduce visitor numbers. Thus, integrating tourism management with climate adaptation strategies becomes a necessity for these regions [39].

The literature review highlighted that, despite the growing number of studies focused on adapting to climate effects in coastal regions, constituting a positive indicator for the agenda, a significant gap remains in research addressing the integration of mitigation practices with coastal management. The emphasis on adaptation strategies may reflect the urgency perceived by coastal managers in responding to environmental impacts already occurring, such as sea level rise and coastal erosion. However, it also suggests an insufficiency of practices aimed at preventive approaches.

This disproportionate emphasis on adaptation practices may compromise the socio-environmental and socio-economic sustainability of coastal regions in the long term, given the fundamental role of mitigation practices in reducing environmental vulnerabilities. Therefore, it becomes evident that coastal management must integrate mitigation and adaptation practices to promote a balance between prevention and resilience to adverse climate effects.

Finally, another critical aspect identified in the literature is the fragmented conceptual approach to strategies adopted by managers in coastal areas in the face of climate change. While the literature highlights the growing recognition of the importance of aligning different levels of management, fostering social participation, and integrating multiple stakeholders, institutional and cultural barriers still pose significant challenges to achieving efficient coastal management in addressing climate challenges.

To overcome these barriers, greater investments in technology and knowledge are required, alongside the development of a holistic perspective on the issue and the strengthening of collaboration between the public and private sectors. This approach aims to build and enhance solutions focused on resilience and sustainability for coastal regions, taking into account the needs and challenges of current generations as well as those anticipated for future generations.

3.2. Contributions of Climate Strategies Adopted by Coastal Region Managers to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are one of the fundamental international pillars for strategies aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, promoting climate adaptation, and enhancing resilience to climate change [40]. Figure 4 presents the percentage contributions of studies to each SDG.

As evidenced in Figure 4, studies integrating coastal management with the climate agenda predominantly contribute to SDG 14—Life Below Water and SDG 13—Climate Action. Coastal management is shown to be interconnected with ocean management in mitigating and adapting to adverse climate effects. Damage observed in aquatic environments also impacts coastal areas, as floods and erosion lead to a variety of consequences, including harm to communities, damage to environments and infrastructure, and land loss due to submersion. These impacts are compounded by population growth in coastal regions and the unsustainability of practices still adopted by governments, businesses, and societies [26,41].

Despite the evident role of climate management in coastal regions in achieving SDGs 14 (Life Below Water) and 13 (Climate Action), a series of limitations still act as barriers to the effective development of these strategies. These include the lack of identification and management of climate risks, inadequacies in the control and prevention instruments adopted by public and private institutions, and the limited scope of initiatives [42]. A coastal management approach that considers ecosystems, including aquatic life, shows potential for developing more effective adaptation strategies capable of addressing the socioeconomic and socio-environmental impacts of adverse climate events more effectively [43].

Additionally, the use of indicators to improve risk management and climate strategies is a powerful tool in response to the urgent need for effective mitigation and adaptation practices. Different climate indicators are used to analyze the impacts of climate change on different sectors of the economy. They can be related to various sectors of human activity, such as agriculture, plantation crops, forests, and coastal management. In addition, the indicators can present data associated with temperature, precipitation levels, and wind speed, for example [44]. Initiatives aimed at the reforestation of coastal areas, the reconstruction of zones environmentally impacted by human activities, and the development of innovative measures based on technological resources can significantly contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation in coastal regions, preserving both marine and terrestrial life [45].

The coordination between environmental and maritime needs constitutes a fundamental pillar of coastal management in the face of climate change [46,47]. This is also reflected in Figure 4, where SDG 15 (Life on Land) is highlighted as one of the most associated with climate management in coastal regions. Furthermore, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) also stood out, emphasizing that risk management in coastal regions is a powerful tool for addressing climate effects affecting cities worldwide. The growing investments and adaptation efforts are gaining momentum and funding globally, reflecting concerns about the future of cities [25,48].

In addition to these, SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) also showed connections to studies on climate management in coastal regions. Climate change, malnutrition, and chronic diseases are three of the most significant challenges of the century, sharing fundamental underlying factors. Climate change directly affects the food security of many coastal societies, impacting agriculture, fisheries, food quality, rising prices, and the instability of the food industry and entire food system chains [49,50].

In conclusion, the adoption of integrated practices among governments, businesses, and societies represents a promising initiative for achieving more effective solutions in the climate management of coastal regions and advancing the SDGs. Coastal management in the face of challenges posed by climate change is, therefore, a central pillar in addressing climate change, developing efficient mitigation and adaptation strategies, and promoting the SDGs at local, national, and global scales.

3.3. Research Agenda for Future Studies

This section outlines a research agenda for future studies through three distinct stages of analysis, number of studies per year (time analysis), analysis of actors, and an agenda for future studies.

3.3.1. Number of Studies per Year (Time Analysis)

Initially, it presents the temporal trend of studies identified on the topic during the search process, followed by a forecast for the next five complete years (2024–2028). The blue line in Figure 5 illustrates the progression in the number of studies from 2014 to 2023, while the red dotted and shaded line represents the forecast for the period from 2024 to 2028, obtained using ARIMA (auto-regressive integrated moving average) modeling. This model is based on the trend observed in the previous data. The shaded gray area reflects the confidence interval for the predicted data.

The data from the past 10 years reveal significant growth in the number of studies, highlighting the increasing relevance of the topic. The forecast results indicate that the number of studies in the coming years is likely to show continuous expansion, suggesting a rising academic interest. The forecast points to the growing importance of the climate agenda in coastal regions and the role of management in this context, both for science and society. The upward trend, observed over the past decade and projected into the future, may be linked to the urgency of the climate agenda among coastal region managers, given the multiple adverse climatic effects. This highlights the potential of this field for future studies [10,12,13].

3.3.2. Analysis of Actors and Agenda for Future Studies

Given the identified potential for research in the field of climate management strategies in coastal regions, this second stage presents the most researched contexts and those with the greatest deficiencies in study volume. This aims to clarify which scopes present the greatest need for new research. Figure 6 illustrates the concentration of studies on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in coastal regions by actors encompassing governments, businesses, and societies.

The heatmap (Figure 6) highlights a predominance of studies focusing on adaptation strategies, as already identified in the analysis of related constructs. Furthermore, within the scope of adaptation strategies, a significant number of studies identified governments, whether local or national, as the central actors in implementing these strategies. Companies and communities also played a notable role in a significant portion of the studies on adaptation strategies.

In contrast, mitigation strategies showed a deficiency in the number of studies associated with all actors, particularly regarding the role of communities in this context. Figure 6 suggests that future research could focus on integrating mitigation and adaptation strategies, considering the involvement of multiple actors, to provide new insights into discussions that remain underexplored in the recent literature. Finally, based on these findings and the literature gaps identified during the SLR, topics are proposed for future research agendas.

Table 1. Agenda for future research.

Theoretical Basis	Suggestion for Future Research
[29,51,52]	Studies investigating, in local contexts, the factors influencing public (civil society) predisposition to actively participate in decision-making processes related to mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change in coastal regions, emphasizing cultural, economic, social, and psychological factors.
[33,34,36,37]	Studies focusing on the main vulnerabilities of different actors governments, businesses, and societies in coastal regions facing adverse climate effects, as well as on the mitigation and adaptation strategies adopted to reduce these vulnerabilities.
[38,39,53]	Studies examining the socio-economic impacts of climate change on tourism in coastal regions and the role of governments and businesses in developing adaptation and mitigation strategies to address this issue.
[21,22]	Studies presenting new or underexplored approaches to risk management in coastal regions concerning the climate agenda, emphasizing the interrelation between different actors.

Source: Study data (2024).

presents four suggestions for future research, focused primarily on the integration of mitigation and adaptation strategies to address climate change and on multi-level analyses. Most suggestions emphasize the interaction between businesses, societies, and governments, national and local, to develop more effective strategies. Additionally, the research considers the main vulnerabilities, factors, and climate impacts characteristic of coastal regions, with a particular emphasis on the role of management as a tool to overcome these challenges. The following section presents the final considerations of this study.

4. Conclusions

This study was conducted through a systematic literature review (SLR) and was based on the question regarding the current state of the art in studies investigating the role of management in coastal regions for the development of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The general objective was to identify empirical evidence about the role of coastal region management, including the various actors involved, in developing strategies for adapting to and mitigating climate effects.

The keywords used were “climate change” AND “coastal management”, and the selected databases were Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. The initial search yielded 624 articles. After applying search strategies, eligibility criteria, and study analysis, a final corpus of 96 studies was established for this SLR.

The analysis and discussion of the results were divided into three distinct sections. In the first section, related constructs to the object of analysis were presented, highlighting adaptation strategies as the most commonly adopted in the management of coastal regions, compared to mitigation strategies, indicating an imbalance in climate management in these regions. Furthermore, a significant gap in studies addressing the integration of mitigation and adaptation practices with coastal management was observed. Despite progress in climate strategies for coastal areas, significant barriers still persist, with emphasis on institutional, economic, technological, and social barriers, increasing the vulnerability of these regions to adverse climate effects, particularly soil erosion and sea level rise.

The second section demonstrated the association between the climate agenda, coastal management, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on SDG 14—Life Below Water and SDG 13—Climate Action, as being the most related to coastal management practices in response to climate effects. SDG 15—Life on Land and SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities also received notable attention.

The research agenda for future studies highlighted, through a longitudinal analysis, the growing academic relevance of the topic, with projections for an increase in the number of studies over the next five years. Additionally, the study pointed out research gaps, particularly focusing on mitigation strategies and their integration with climate adaptation strategies in coastal regions, emphasizing a multi-level approach that integrates different actors, such as governments, businesses, and societies. This includes social participation, studies on climate vulnerability, impacts on coastal tourism, water resources, agriculture and food production, public health, infrastructure, energy, biodiversity and ecosystems, human security and new approaches to climate management in these regions.

The study reinforced the fundamental role of coastal management in addressing global climate change, given that these regions are potentially among the most affected, while also being strategically positioned for the development of effective mitigation and adaptation practices. This supports the consolidation of the climate agenda in coastal regions as an important foundation for the sustainable agenda, environmental management, and discussions on climate change.