Statement from "A Dialogue on Coastal Cities and Coastal Community Resilience" Town Hall

This document summarizes the discussions and recommendations resulting from the town hall event titled 'A Dialogue on Coastal Cities and Coastal Community Resilience,' taking place on February 20th, 2024 in the context of the Ocean Sciences Meeting. 

Experts in coastal resilience and representatives from coastal municipalities came together to delve into the pressing challenges facing coastal regions worldwide.

Hosted by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience, one of the coordinating structures under the umbrella of the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development, the event aimed to bridge the gap between coastal city stakeholders and scientific communities. By fostering dialogue and sharing cutting-edge scientific insights, the event wanted to reflect upon strategies and solutions to provide communities and practitioners with the knowledge needed to combat threats such as sea-level rise, storm surges, and coastal erosion, and initiate a stronger relation with ocean scientists and knowledge providers.

The event underscored the critical need for accessible and co-produced technical and scientific information in crafting resilient strategies for coastal areas. As communities grapple with socio-economic stresses exacerbated by environmental hazards, the integration of scientific findings becomes increasingly paramount.

Out of the discussions emerged key recommendations directed at the scientific community, aimed at informing the forthcoming initiative 'Cities with the Ocean.' This initiative, part of the UN Ocean Decade framework, seeks to establish a network of coastal cities committed to implementing solutions in line with Ocean Decade Actions. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the initiative aims to develop a shared set of strategies for coastal adaptation.