Navigating the currents of coastal narratives in search of sustainable futures

Abstract

In the face of rapid, consequential changes in coastal conditions, coastal communities and regions must make decisions to address these changes and negotiate pathways towards more sustainable futures. Making just and equitable decisions requires engaging the affected population and influential stakeholders in the process. These processes can be improved by considering and engaging with shared narratives present across both time and location. This paper reviews exemplary instances in which narratives have been employed in facilitating decisions in coastal regions, in particular, future-facing-narratives that reflect the social landscape and dynamics operating in parallel with environmental and geographical conditions. Recognizing and learning from these narratives deepens and facilitates making informed, meaningful decisions on complex, contested, value-laden issues facing coastal communities. This paper argues that decisions at scales from local-to-national can be improved by considering shared narratives of sustainability and social identity as central pillars of the negotiation around both governance processes and desirable outcomes.