Perception of climate change impacts , urbanization and coastal planning in the Gaeta Gulf (central Tyrrhenian Sea): A multidimensional approach

The coasts, with their intricate combination of natural and anthropogenic fragilities, can always be considered a crucial component in the geography of risk and territorial governance. Furthermore, coastal areas worldwide are currently facing profound and immediate impacts of climate change, presenting unparalleled challenges for both ecosystems and coastal communities. In these contexts, high socio-environmental vulnerability has often been linked to planning and management practices that, at times, have exacerbated coastal exposure, making it more prone to extreme natural phenomena, such as coastal floods and storm surges, as well as degradation. The case of the Gaeta Gulf, a largely urbanized part of the central Tyrrhenian coast in Italy that encompasses two administrative areas between the northern Campania and the southern Lazio Regions, provides an opportunity to investigate these criticalities both along the coastline and within the interconnected inland areas. This research aims to understand how administrations and communities perceive, experience, and understand the coastal risks and challenges posed by climate change, as well as their level of information and preparedness to address such risks. These aspects will be analyzed through a multidisciplinary approach, shedding light on the political, social, environmental, and economic practices in these areas, and the potential implications for coastal planning policies. In addition, this contribution presents the results of a qualitative survey involving the administration of questionnaires related to the perception of climate change impacts on the coasts and the level of information on the mitigation and adaptation practices within the communities living in these areas.