Ahead of Oceanology International 2026, Caroline Douglass from the Environment Agency previews a significant keynote speech which addresses the current challenges in coastal resilience and flood defence for the conference track ‘COASTAL RESILIENCE AND DEFENCE’ in the COAST Theatre
By Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environment Agency
Australia is a country known for its golden sands and rolling surf and as an Australian I know first-hand how beloved the beaches and coasts are.
Although the sun doesn’t shine so frequently, England’s coastline is equally valued. It is home to thriving communities, beautiful landscapes and vital infrastructure.
Our beaches and shorelines provide a variety of benefits and opportunities including tourism and recreation throughout the year. They also provide an important habitat for birds, other animals and plant species.
Our coast is changing
Coastlines naturally change over time, but rising sea levels and more frequent storms are accelerating erosion. In some parts of the east coast, erosion rates can be up to 4 metres per year.
During the early part of 2026 we have already seen accelerated erosion in East Suffolk due to Storm Goretti. Sadly, this required the demolition of several homes at Thorpeness.
Around 3,500 homes could be at risk of erosion by 2055 with today’s coastal defences in place. By 2100, nearly 20,000 properties may face erosion risk.
Protecting our coastal communities
Coastal defence projects receive funding in areas where they will deliver the most benefit and value for money. Where we deliver these projects, they often realise wider benefits such as enhanced biodiversity and improved public spaces. The Southsea Coastal project is one such example, where the defences have enhanced historic monuments, created safe and attractive public spaces whilst protecting more than 10,000 residential properties.
This cannot be achieved on all of England’s coastline. Whilst we are unable to protect every home from the effects of coastal erosion, our work to significantly improve National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping (NCERM) data enables coastal authorities to plan for the future and inform communities.
Each section of our coast has a Shoreline Management Plan which set out approaches and actions. In parts of the coast that cannot be defended we are supporting local authorities and communities through the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) which helps them to adapt and transition away from areas as risk.
The future of our coast
As we adapt to a changing climate, we need to work in partnership with others and a collaborative approach is needed to manage our coastline and protect communities and habitats.
I am pleased to see numerous examples of where this is working well across England including at the Cockett Wick seawall improvement scheme, which opened on the vulnerable Essex coastline in 2025. The key objective of the project was to provide an adaptive approach to meeting challenges from climate change. The new wall is designed to account for sea-level rise and climate change; it can be raised again in 50 years if required.
Our next 3 year Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme begins in April 2026, with areas across England benefitting from £4.2bn of Government investment. Alongside this, the Coastal Adaptation Pilots scheme will be supported by up to £30 million of government funding over the same period.
I am confident that delivery of the programme will assist in protecting these valuable and unique areas and will ensure that these coastal areas can continue to be enjoyed and contribute a range of multiple benefits to local communities for years to come.
Environment Agency at Oi26
Rachael Hill MBE, Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Strategy Manager, Environment Agency, will deliver a keynote presentation ‘Addressing the current challenges in coastal resilience and flood defence’ for the Oi26 conference track COASTAL RESILIENCE AND DEFENCE in the COAST Theatre on Wednesday 11th March at from 11am to 12.30pm.
With a new COAST exhibition focus and conference track for 2026, the largest ever Oi takes place from 10th to 12th March at Excel London, hosting over 450+ exhibiting companies from over 30 countries.
Oceanology International 2026 visitor registration is open via the Oi26 website.
