Coastal ecosystems play a critical role in global climate and the carbon cycle by sequestering carbon. Carbon storage rates per unit area exceed those of terrestrial ecosystems. Climate change-induced impacts include sea-level rise and ensuing coastal squeeze, and warming seas and ocean acidification. Some coastal systems such as arid systems, areas with large expanses near mean sea level like deltas, and those with high human impact will be less sustainable. Management of coastal systems should be based on system functioning that uses natural energies to the greatest extent possible. It is important to understand that there are biophysical limits that need to be understood and taken into consideration for sustainable management and restoration to take place. Climate change will interact with other global change forcings such as environmental degradation, population pressure, and energy costs to exacerbate climate impacts. Resource scarcity, especially energy, will make energy intensive restoration and adaptation projects more expensive.
