Sea'ties: helping coastal towns adapt to rising sea levels
Because coastal cities are densely populated and particularly exposed to the threats posed by rising sea levels, the Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP) has launched the international Sea'ties programme. The aim is to encourage the sharing of scientific data and best practice, so that coastal areas can implement effective and sustainable adaptation solutions.
Jakarta, Vancouver, Stockholm, Nice, New Orleans… These coastal cities are among the 40 cities that have joined the Sea’ties programme. Presented on 7 June at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in Nice from 9 to 13 June, this initiative has been developed as part of the Ocean & Climate Platform (OCP), supported by the Fondation de France, which has over 110 members (research institutes, NGOs, private sector, French and international institutions, local authorities).
Anticipating and adapting to the risk of flooding
While sea levels could rise by more than one metre by 2100* according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 1.5 million people in France are already exposed to the risk of coastal flooding, and 864 municipalities are considered “particularly vulnerable”. For coastal towns and their surrounding areas, the stakes are huge: safety of the population, protection of infrastructure and ports, relocation of housing or economic activity zones, preservation of natural areas... all these challenges must be met by informing and involving all local communities and stakeholders.
To achieve this, the Sea'ties programme collects scientific data and disseminates it to the stakeholders concerned, identifies responses implemented in coastal cities around the world and encourages the sharing of experience and best practice to support the choice of public policies for adaptation.
Sharing experience across the globe
During the first stage of the programme, the various responses developed to deal with rising sea levels (technical, environmental, socio-economic, etc.) were identified in towns in four geographical regions representative of the diversity of risks (France, Pacific, West Africa, North America). These responses were classified into three types: protection responses, so-called "accommodation" responses that preserve the habitability of coastlines (early warning systems, elevated foundations, design of urban drainage systems, etc.), and relocation, a strategy that is increasingly being considered despite being met with strong social disapproval.
Workshops were then organised with stakeholders in six regions of the world (Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, West Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean) to share experiences and analyse the key factors for success in implementing these responses. In total, almost 280 stakeholders (elected representatives, scientists, regional authority managers, representatives of civil society and the private sector, funding bodies and development agencies, etc.) came together to identify local challenges, share their experiences, and produce recommendations to best prepare the affected areas for adaptation.
A number of communication tools have been published, including regional workshop reports, explanatory videos and a map of initiatives, so that everyone can learn from the programme and take action. These ideas and proven solutions are now available to everyone, especially elected representatives and coastal stakeholders, so that they can begin protecting the future of coastal areas straight away.
*Source: French Ministry for the Ecological Transition - Climate Change Adaptation Resources Centre, 2024.
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