One of the most challenging issues
facing the ocean today is rapid coastal urbanization whose implications
have yet to be assessed. Today, the majority of the world’s population
lives within sixty kilometers of the coast line and this is steadily
increasing. This profound demographic shift has significant
implications for the coastal environment, inhabitants and ecosystem
stability.

These trends provide
challenges to the intrinsic values coastal environments offer as well
as the values held by the communities located in these areas. Coastal
ecosystems are among the most productive on earth. It has been
estimated, for example, that over 90% of the planet's living and
nonliving resources are found within a few hundred kilometers of the
coast. These valuable natural assets are seriously threatened by
coastal development pressures, coastal sprawl and coastal pollution.
Preserving the natural values we associate with coastal regions will be
a significant challenge on a planet whose population is projected to
reach 8 billion or more people.

Compounding
these challenges are the prospects of the vulnerabilities these regions
face. Among these are climate change, sea level rise, new maritime
security needs associated with increase transportation by sea, and the
ever present danger of extreme events such as tropical storms and
tsunamis. Accordingly, it is timely to address these topics in depth as
we bring together public officials, nongovernmental organization,
citizens and natural and social scientists to consider the values and
vulnerabilities of coastal regions around the globe. The Coastal Cities
Summit will occur in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA in November 17-20,
2008, and will be organized by the International Ocean Institute-USA.