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Coastal ecosystems are among the most productive on earth. Today approximately 2.8 billion people – over 40% of the total global population – live in coastal cities.

We face significant present and future challenges in managing the natural assets of coastal regions as the planet’s population is projected to reach over eight billion people by 2050. This has significant implications for the coastal environment, for ecosystem stability, human health, and sustaining economic vitality. Invaluable ecosystem, societal, and economic assets need to be considered carefully in balance with coastal development, urban sprawl, and coastal pollution.

Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to stresses caused by climate change and human pressures. How do our coastal communities best prepare for sea level rise, ocean acidification and increased variability in the strength of meteorological phenomena like storms or droughts which will affect different communities around the world differently?

Coastal cities also face additional needs in marine transportation, and require additional security to guard against piracy threats and global terrorism, as well as assistance with drug interdiction and immigration. All of these require strong public education and engagement.

What are best practices and experiences to address these issues? How does the international community work together to formulate goals and workable solutions for coastal cities? What are the legal challenges and ethical implications? These and other challenges will be approached by internationally prominent plenary speakers, workshops, and individual discussions.

The International Ocean Institute – USA will organize the Coastal Cities Summit II in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, from 30 April - 3 May, 2012. This follows the first Coastal Cities Summit held 17-20 November, 2008, which successfully hosted approximately 250 participants from 19 U.S. states and 22 countries.