Sand dunes, Sandbanks
16-18 September 2025 in Bristol, UK
In September 2025, around 240 experts in coastal risk management gathered in Bristol, UK, for the latest ICE Coastal Management Conference. The theme of the conference was “creating a climate for change” and included looking back at how the sector has evolved over the past 20 or so years, what we are doing now, and what we need to do into the future.
Topics covered during the conference were varied and included exploring how climate change requires a new approach to coastal management; sharing best practice and progress from innovative projects around the globe; defining how the sector will develop to meet the future needs of communities; questioning how we can utilise finance to achieve better outcomes; and inspiring the next generation. Within these topics were a wide range of presentations covering things such as:
- nature-based solutions being applied in places such as Denmark, USA, Canada, Ireland and the UK;
- different approaches to engaging with and involving coastal communities about the risks climate change poses to them and how best to address them together;
- emerging challenges for coastal risk managers including coastal landfill, heritage and golf courses;
- latest science and understanding of how climate change is affecting the waves and tides and the challenges that poses now and in the future for beach management and the size of future coastal defences (which will need to be larger and higher); and
- adaptation planning and adaptive pathways (of which a lot of examples were presented!).
For me personally, having been a part of the conference organising committee and also chairing two of the conference sessions, it was great to see the event run smoothly and in particular, to see Lia Bennett, Matt Wadey and Simon Hills of the South West Flood & Coastal team have the opportunity to present some of the great work they and our team have been doing, covering:
- An engagement-led approach to improving urban sand dune management using soft system methodology;
- Long-term sustainable management of a coastal sediment subcell via nearshore beach systems; and
- A new approach to holistic, evidence-based management of flood and coastal risk assets in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
There were also presentations and posters about other BCP Council projects given by our consultants and contractors about the Christchurch Bay & Harbour Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, and the Hengistbury Head Long Groyne Upgrade.
Christchurch Bay & Harbour
