The challenges and potentials of short-termism in coastal urban planning practice – insights from 18 pilot projects in Denmark

Urban development in low-lying coastal areas increasingly conflicts with sea-level rise and the growing risk of coastal flooding. This chapter examines contemporary coastal urban planning practices across 18 frontrunner cities in Denmark. Coastal protection emerges as the predominant adaptation strategy, while urban development in flood-prone areas remains largely unquestioned. This situation is partly driven by systemic path dependency, short-term perspectives, and embedded project logics. Although short-termism can enable local experimentation, iterative learning, and path-deviant initiatives, it is insufficient for addressing long-term objectives and more transformative approaches to coastal adaptation. Consequently, there is a need for systematic visioning, monitoring, and knowledge sharing within coastal urban planning practice.