Championing Coastal Coordination (3Cs)

The Championing Coastal Coordination (3Cs) initiative is a programme of work that is being led by the Environment Agency with support from Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), The Crown Estate (TCE) and the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs). It is a collaboration seeking to enhance and progress coordination for coastal sustainability and resilience in England. This is in recognition of the major challenges that we face in our coastal and estuarine environments.Coastal communities are on the frontline of climate change, facing increased risks from the impact of coastal change through storms and sea-level rise, with serious challenges of future land and sea management priorities. Coastal zones often attract intensive investment in development to deliver economic growth, such as housing, ports, recreational and transport infrastructure. Economic competition for space between diverse and legitimate interests places multiple stressors on coastal and estuarine environments and can result in coastal squeeze and habitat loss. If these pressures are not well balanced, public access and enjoyment can be compromised, and ecosystem health can deteriorate.England’s estuaries and coasts are home to a diverse range of natural capital ‘assets’ that provide ecosystem services vital to the economy and societal wellbeing. Restored, recovered and resilient coastal habitats provide functioning, nature-based solutions for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change as well as a wide range of other ecosystem service benefits such as carbon sequestration, flood mitigation and biodiversity improvement.Championing Coastal Coordination has aimed to tackle these challenges and the complexity of Governance by empowering local partnerships to improve:· Environmental Protection: Coastal ecosystems are fragile and unique. Coordinated management protects biodiversity, maintains water quality, and preserves natural habitats.· Sustainable Development: By aligning economic, environmental, and social goals, coordination promotes sustainable growth that does not compromise the health of the coast.· Climate Resilience: Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea-level rise, storm surges, and erosion. Coordinated planning and infrastructure investments enhance resilience.· Community Well-being: Healthy coasts support thriving local communities through recreation, tourism, and livelihoods. Coordinated management ensures these benefits are equitably distributed.Overall, championing coastal coordination is crucial for the long-term sustainability and well-being of coastal communities and ecosystems.The 3Cs initiative ran a successful pilot in 2021/2022 and secured funding for an additional 3-year period from 2023-2025. For the financial year 2025/2026 we have been allocated a smaller budget, and we will use this allocation to consolidate the work to date. We hope to continue the programme from 2026 onwards, pending the outcome of the 2025 Government Spending Review