Evaluating climate adaptation strategies for coastal resilience using multi-criteria decision-making framework

Coastal regions face significant challenges due to climate change, requiring effective adaptation strategies to protect ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities. Selecting appropriate strategies remains complex due to the need to balance ecological, economic, and social factors. This study introduces a novel AHP-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework that systematically integrates empirical evidence and expert judgment to evaluate and prioritize coastal adaptation strategies. The framework incorporates inputs from 20 experts and evaluates alternatives across four key criteria: Environmental Impact (weight = 0.533), Cost-Effectiveness (0.255), Social Acceptance (0.149), and Long-Term Sustainability (0.063). Among the evaluated strategies, mangrove restoration received the highest priority score of 0.70, highlighting its superior performance across environmental, social, and sustainability dimensions. The proposed methodology offers a transparent and replicable approach to assess trade-offs, supporting informed and context-specific coastal adaptation planning aligned with sustainable development goals.