Climate change presents significant challenges to various aspects of human life, particularly access to fair housing in coastal regions. These areas have always been attractive for residence due to their natural resources, economic opportunities, and cultural features. However, the intensification of climate change, including sea-level rise, increased frequency and intensity of storms, coastal erosion, and other extreme weather events, poses serious threats to these regions.

Several consequences of climate change deserve special attention, as they cause the most significant problems for coastal residents:

• Sea-level rise: This is one of the most obvious and direct consequences of climate change. In coastal regions, rising sea levels lead to the flooding of low-lying territories, making housing in these zones uninhabitable. For instance, in countries like Bangladesh, a significant portion of the population lives in river deltas where sea levels are constantly rising, leading to mass migrations and displacements and exacerbating housing access issues.
• Increased frequency and intensity of storms: This has a devastating impact on coastal regions. Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones can cause significant damage to infrastructure and housing. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused substantial damage to the Caribbean region, destroying thousands of homes and leaving many people homeless. Under such conditions, the restoration and reconstruction of housing become extremely difficult and costly tasks.
• Coastal erosion: This poses a serious threat to coastal regions. The constant impact of waves and storms leads to the destruction of the coastline, making housing in these zones vulnerable. In some cases, erosion can lead to the complete destruction of homes and infrastructure, forcing people to leave their homes and seek new places to live.
• Economic instability: Climate change affects the economic stability of coastal regions. Many of these areas depend on tourism, fishing, and other natural resources for their economic development. Sea-level rise, increased frequency of storms, and coastal erosion can negatively impact these sectors, leading to reduced incomes and increased poverty levels. This, in turn, exacerbates problems with access to fair housing, as low-income individuals cannot afford to buy or rent housing in safe and stable areas.
• Impact on vulnerable populations: It is important to note that climate change does not affect all segments of the population equally. Low-income individuals and vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, women, and children, are most often affected by the consequences of climate change. These groups often live in unsafe and vulnerable areas where the risk of flooding and housing destruction is highest. Moreover, they often lack access to the financial resources and support needed to restore and reconstruct housing after natural disasters.

To address these problems, comprehensive measures are needed:

• Development and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies: This includes analyzing current and projected climate risks and developing measures to reduce them. Implementing these strategies requires coordinating the efforts of various stakeholders and using innovative technologies and approaches.
• Protection of the coastline: This includes the construction of engineering structures such as dikes and breakwaters to prevent erosion and flooding. It is also important to restore and create natural barriers, such as mangrove forests and dunes, which help mitigate the impact of waves and storms.
• Building sustainable buildings and infrastructure: This requires the use of materials and technologies that can withstand extreme weather conditions.
• Creating early warning systems for natural disasters: This includes developing and implementing systems for monitoring weather conditions and forecasting natural disasters. This will allow timely informing the population about approaching threats and taking measures to prevent or mitigate them.
• Ensuring access to financial resources and support for vulnerable populations: This includes financial assistance programs, grants, and loans to help restore and reconstruct housing after natural disasters.
• Development and implementation of educational programs on climate change and its consequences: This will help the population better understand the risks and take measures to reduce them.
• Ensuring the participation of local communities in the decision-making process: This includes involving local residents in the development and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies, considering their needs and interests, and increasing the effectiveness of the measures taken.
• Conducting research and assessments of the impact of climate change on various population groups: This includes collecting and analyzing data on the consequences of climate change.

In conclusion, the impact of climate change on fair housing in coastal regions is a complex and multifaceted problem that requires a comprehensive approach and joint efforts from governments, international organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders. Only through joint efforts can the risks associated with climate change be reduced and access to fair and sustainable housing for all population groups in coastal regions be ensured.