Coastal zones are areas of particular ecological, social, and economic value where many conflicting interests need to be resolved in order to ensure a sustainable development of this highly complex environment. Humanity has always shown a special interest in the coastal zone and a large fraction of the human population traditionally settles in or close to the coastal zone. Recent increases in coastal urban population and changes in land-use practices have led to rapid and large changes in sediment supplies and increases in nutrient, pollutant and pathogen loadings to coastal waters. Climate-induced changes in sea level are likely to increase the risk of inundation in many parts of the coastal zone. The on-going and anticipated changes pose serious risks to human health and the capacity of ecosystems to support products and services critical to the survival and well being of human populations, in developed and developing nations alike.

The Coastal Zone Community of Practice (CZCP) supports the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) in its goal to provide observations required for informed decisions concerning the coastal zone. High and immediate priorities for GEOSS are improved forecasts of sea-level rise and associated increases in coastal inundation that may be exacerbated by increases in the frequency of extreme weather.