Malvárez, G.; Navas, F.; Parker, D.J., and Penning-Rowsell, E., 2018. The Need for Coastal Hazard Prevention and its Valuation Methodologies in Europe. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 926–930. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The artificialisation of the coast has significantly increased the potential for hazard affecting greater populations and still methodologies for valuation of coastal protection are lacking a multidimentisional approach taking into account both hydrometeorological as well as human induced risks in a way that swift decision making can be achieved. Environmental and economic appraisal is needed for managing coastal erosion and inundation as well as oil spills. In depth analyses from the UK, Poland, Italy, Greece and Spain legislative and planning frameworks show that methodologies vary significantly and that the agreed principles of implementation of benefit-cost and/or multicriteria analyses for decision making in the context of EU directives directly involved in coastal hazards (such as the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC)) are not as yet carried out for a variety of reasons. Key findings, indicates that the range of approaches implemented in European Union member states are reduced to three models: (i) based on strong Spatial and Land Planning instruments; the main tool for decision making related to coastal hazards is ultimately mediated by urban planning. Even though specific legislation is in place for the management of coastal areas, the planning instruments are a major condition that forces actual coastal hazard alleviation; (ii) based on economic appraisal, with cost benefit analysis as a key methodology in the process to distribute resources among the various institutions involved. In those instances, allocation of resources coincides with the protection of socio-economic assets in a context of indicative planning tools; and (iii) emergency response-type approaches, which affect most countries in relation to oil spills but that also is very strong in instances where storm damage and other hydrometeorological process damages strategic resources for the economy such as beaches in Mediterranean countries. Expenses in those cases are not commonly confronted with other methods but an overriding public interest.