Convening as a special event in advance of the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit gathered representatives from coastal cities and regions and island States to discuss how to secure their futures against the multidimensional threats posed by climate change and sea level rise. The event aimed to increase the momentum for the global mobilization needed to support the adaptation and resilience of coastal cities and regions to ensure their sustainable future.
The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary of the meeting notes that the Summit launched the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition – an initiative bringing together decision makers and stakeholders to design and support the implementation of concrete adaptation and resilience responses. Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and President of the Coalition, described its goal as to “adapt our territories, protect our populations, and preserve our biodiversity, giving ourselves every chance to face together the greatest challenges of the century: global climate change.”
The Coalition will address the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coastal areas, including erosion, submersion, flooding, salinization, extreme rainfalls, destruction of natural habitats, and the consequences of these impacts for coastal cities and regions, their populations, infrastructure, and activities. It will focus on three priorities:
- Organizing the exchange of practices and implementable solutions and strengthening access to, and the sharing and use of, scientific knowledge and data;
- Mobilizing financial actors towards the design and implementation of appropriate financial mechanisms; and
- Advocating for the interests of coastal cities and regions in political forums.
Speaking at the launch, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua highlighted the importance of the Coalition in mobilizing leadership and finance, disseminating knowledge, building capacity, and amplifying coastal voices in international ocean governance.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson emphasized the urgency of strengthening global cooperation to address sea level rise, underscoring intergenerational justice.
Franz Tattenbach Capra, Minister of Environment and Energy, Costa Rica, called for building a global alliance for coastal resilience through knowledge sharing, partnership, and investment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
Thematic sessions addressed: putting science at the heart of coastal cities and regions’ adaptation; moving from data collection to risk assessment; multi-level governance of coastal cities and regions; financial strategies, partnerships, and engineering for coastal cities and regions; ports, cities, and regions united for coastal resilience; hybrid and soft solutions for a resilient future; bold visions for the future of coastal cities and regions; centering social justice while fighting climate gentrification; and engaging the insurance industry.
A closing segment, focused on turning vision into action, featured a series of announcements, including the launch of the Space4Ocean Alliance and the launch of a dedicated funding window in the Communities Climate Adaptation Facility for sea level rise adaptation projects developed by coastal cities.
Co-organized by the City of Nice, the Ocean & Climate Platform, and the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, the Summit took place on 7 June 2025 in Nice, France. [ENB Coverage of Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit]