The Ocean & Climate Platform Launches Its Recommendations For Coastal Cities To Adapt To Sea Level Rise
By Théophile Bongarts-Lebbe 21 November, 2023
Adapting to irreversible rising seas is a collective challenge so to help cities worldwide, OCP released policy recommendations. Bongarts-Lebbe shares key priority areas of the recommendations, what's next & imperatives for COP28
On November 9, at the One Planet – Polar Summit and just a few weeks ahead of UNFCCC COP28, the Sea’ties initiative unveiled a series of “Policy Recommendations to Coastal Cities to Adapt to Sea Level Rise”.
The urgency to adapt to the inevitable
Sea level rise projections conceal many uncertainties and variations across the globe, but it is certain that the phenomenon is irreversible and set to continue for centuries and to millennia.
SLR is irreversible & threatening coastal cities worldwide
All across the globe, coastal cities, on the front line of the growing onslaught of the sea, are seeking adaptation solutions. In light of this, the Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP) launched in 2020 the Sea’ties initiative to support coastal cities threatened by sea level rise by facilitating the conception and implementation of adaptation strategies.
Four priorities to address by regional, national and local decision-makers
Concluding four years of collecting scientific expertise and on-the ground experiences, the “Policy Recommendations to Coastal Cities to Adapt to Sea Level Rise” is now supported by 80 organisations globally.
OCP released policy recommendations with 4 priorities to help cities
The OCP addresses a series of recommendations to local, national, and international decision-makers, focusing on four priorities:
1. Solutions – Planning long-term adaptation responses tailored to the local context
Adaptation means shifting our approach towards long-term planning that anticipates different scenarios of sea level rise, while remaining flexible to potential environmental and societal changes. It entails mixing and phasing multiple solutions (hard and soft protection, ecosystem-based adaptation, hybrid solutions, accommodation, planned relocation etc.) across time and space.
2. Social justice – Prioritising social imperatives in adaptation policies
Considering the propensity of reinforcing inequalities through adaptation policies i.e. maladaptation, it is primordial to center social justice into any decision-making. Meaningful engagement of communities is key and implies dedicating significant time and resources for engaging communities and to pay particular attention to the ones that have been traditionally underrepresented.
3. Knowledge – Developing new ways to generate and share operational knowledge on adaptation
Strengthening the collection of observation and local data is critical and notably entails developing pluri-disciplinary research as well as involving holders of local and indigenous knowledge. To better inform decision-making, further assessments on the feasibility of solutions and monitoring of their impacts are needed.
4. Finance – Building a sustainable finance approach for coastal cities
Coastal cities cannot bear alone the cost of adaptation and need to rely on a financial model based on solidarity which involves all stakeholders impacted directly or indirectly, including inland territories and the private sector. Meanwhile, local financial engineering must be strengthened. Leveraging territorial cooperation and local intermediaries such as regional development banks, is key for cities to access additional resources while providing integrated responses.
Identifying challenges and sharing experiences across Southeast Asia and the Caribbean
Adapting to rising sea levels is a collective challenge, but it encompasses many specificities. Between 2021 and 2023, Sea’ties organised a series of workshops in five regions of the world: Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, West Africa, and the Pacific.
Adapting to rising sea levels is a collective challenge so Sea’ties arranges global workshops…
…more planned for Southeast Asia in 2024
In total, 230 practitioners came together to identify local challenges and share their experiences. At the end of this series of workshops, it has become apparent that many specificities are yet to be uncovered. With this in mind, Sea’ties will be working on the organisation of new workshops in 2024 dedicated to the Southeast Asia and Caribbean regions.
The imperative to commit the international community on the road to COP28 and UNOC 2025
If local decision-makers have multiple tools to initiate adaptation in their territories, the extent of their action hinges on the mobilisation and support of the international community.
Key to successful adaptation is support of the int. communiy
At the One Planet Polar Summit, Heads of States and mayors from all over the world convened to address this crucial matter. They expressed their determination to carry this issue forward:
- This December, at COP28 of the UNFCCC, the political recommendations of this advocacy document will be highlighted at various events, while the COP presidency has expressed its intention to rally the parties around ambitious adaptation targets.
- In 2025, at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC2025) the OCP is committed to upholding this pledge and the translation of its recommendations into tangible actions for the years ahead.
About the Sea’ties initiative
The Sea’ties Initiative aims to facilitate the development and implementation of adaptation solutions to support coastal cities threatened by sea level rise. Led by the Ocean & Climate Platform, the initiative is intended for elected representatives, administrators and stakeholders involved in this transition, acting as a forum to exchange knowledge and experiences of sustainable solutions to foster coastal resilience. Observing that a diversity of solutions has already been implemented across the world and can be inspirational for other coastal cities and territories, Sea’ties mobilises coastal experts and cities from five regions of the world featuring a diversity of climatic, geographic, social, economic, and political contexts. By connecting experiences, characterising them through scientific works and disseminating them in a range of formats, we can promote leading practices and support the choices of political decision makers and regional administrators
Further readings
- 3 Ways To Deal With The Deep Uncertainty Of Sea Level Rise — SLR uncertainty is here to stay but it can be minimised as discussed at SIWW 2021. CWR’s Leung & McGregor share what the climate & planning experts advised
- Rising Seas: SEA’TIES’ Map of Solutions — The Map Solution has >70 adaptation initiatives from across the world. Sea’Ties’ Bongarts expands on the platform
- On Thin Ice! 5 Hot Trends for Rising Seas — What’s the latest on sea level rise after the IPCC-AR6 report? CWR’s Dr Low shares 5 trends you can’t afford to miss
- Futureproofing APAC Banks & Savings — Find out which 17 major APAC banks are on track of sinking loan books totaling US$7.9trn
- 5 Key Takeaways from World Water Congress in Beijing — Can we secure our planet’s water future? CWR’s Low spotlights 5 Key Takeaways from the 18th World Water Congress in Beijing on holistic water management from the mountains to the oceans
More on Latest
- Too Fast, Too Soon – Vanishing Ice & Rising Seas – With persistent global warming, the ‘Big Melt’ we fear has begun in the polar regions, leading to unprecedented ice loss & devastating sea level rise. Get on top of some ice cold facts with CWR’s Tan & Low
- 2°C Too Hot For Ice & Rising Seas – A Conversation with ICCI Director Pearson – Lead ice scientists are calling to “take 2°C off the table” and you’ll understand why from our conversation with ICCI Director Pearson, who makes it clear just how bad the situation is for our cryosphere, ice sheets & sea level rise but she still has some hope
- What Does 1.5°C Mean For Water? A Conversation with WMO Director of Hydrology, Water & Cryosphere Dr. Uhlenbrook – To unpack what unprecedented temperatures means for extreme events, melting ice & sea level rise, we chat to Dr. Uhlenbrook, WMO Director of Hydrology, Water & Cryosphere. Plus, see how soon he thinks we will cross the 1.5°C threshold
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