Coastal climate resilience
Climate action and ocean action are intricately linked. Millions of coastal residents have experienced the disproportionate impacts of climate change firsthand. Catastrophic flooding events, groundwater depletion and ocean acidification are just some of the most visible consequences.
These changes affect the distribution, abundance, migration and survival rates of many species. It is crucial to invest in adaptation solutions now to build resilience and help protect Indigenous Peoples, local communities and coastal ecosystems – and do so inclusively.
This means building social and institutional resilience, reducing poverty, delivering social protection programs and ensuring future climate disasters don’t leave the poor poorer. Bringing together the voices of local leaders to develop sustainable community- and nature-based solutions has the potential to deliver a safer and healthier future for people and our ocean.
What we are doing
The Coastal Communities Initiative uses a stepwise approach to build Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ resilience in the face of climate threats. We do this by assessing hazard risk and community vulnerability, identifying and incubating nature-based solutions, taking conservation and restoration action, directing appropriate ocean climate finance to ensure sustainability, and then measuring the effectiveness of our actions to reduce climate risk.
One solution with exciting potential is the restoration of blue forests – mangroves, seagrasses, seaweeds and coral reefs – which store carbon and protect communities from the ravages of climate-accelerated weather events.
Watch: Find out more about how nature-based solutions can help mitigate the effects of climate change.
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