The Sefton Coast has to be considered in the light of the effect of possible climatic change - global warming, sea level rise and an increase in storminess. Numerous predictions have been made as to the magnitude of these effects, with widely differing answers. However, recent predictions have tended to come together in a narrower range. Recent climate modelling work suggests a possible rise in average sea level of 0.3 metres over the next sixty years. On top of this, the increase in maximum wave height and meteorological surge effects on any storm event must be considered.

Although the environmental influences and the directions of sediment movement are well understood, there is uncertainty over just how much sediment remains in the Irish Sea 'reservoir'. It is now believed that most dune systems in Europe are mature and in erosional and recycling phases. Knowing the sand budget (the total amount of sand in the system) is as important as the understanding of the living and non-living processes. Therefore, more research is needed to gain an understanding of how the Sefton Coast might respond to future climatic change.