Integrated Spatial Planning as a Framework for Climate Adaptation in Coastal and Marine Systems

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Terrestrial Spatial Planning (TSP) have traditionally evolved as disconnected systems, limiting the capacity to address coastal dynamics under climate change. This article proposes Integrated Spatial Planning (ISP) as a governance and planning framework that links marine and terrestrial domains through a multi-level zoning structure operating from municipal to international scales. The approach explicitly incorporates climate change adaptation by aligning spatial planning instruments with marine climate drivers, hydrological processes, and environmental dynamics that shape coastal resilience.The methodology is applied to the Region of Murcia, Spain, a Mediterranean coastal system highly exposed to climate variability, sea level rise, and extreme runoff events. Despite the existence of multiple regulatory and strategic instruments, including urban plans, regional spatial law, basin-scale hydrological planning, climate strategies, and coastal management guidelines, planning remains fragmented across land and sea. The case study reveals critical gaps in the integration of climate projections, runoff and sediment dynamics, infrastructure planning, renewable energy deployment, and ecosystem-based adaptation, particularly in sensitive areas such as the Mar Menor lagoon.ISP addresses these challenges by establishing governance mechanisms that connect marine climate models, environmental dynamics, and spatial decision-making across administrative levels. The results demonstrate how ISP can improve coherence between climate adaptation strategies, ecosystem protection, and socio-economic development, offering a transferable framework for climate-informed coastal and marine spatial planning in vulnerable regions.