The Coastal Resilience Blueprint Workshop brings together ocean science and climate adaptation to identify actionable solutions to growing coastal risks and advance a shared vision for resilient communities and ecosystems ahead of the 2027 Ocean Decade Conference.

How can scientific knowledge be translated into concrete action to protect coastal communities and ecosystems from increasing ocean-related hazards? This question was at the heart of the Coastal Resilience Blueprint Workshop, hosted by CMCC Foundation in Milan on 26–27 October 2026.

Organised by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience (DCC-CR), the international workshop brought together scientists, representatives of Ocean Decade programmes, international organisations, practitioners and early career ocean professionals to help shape a shared roadmap for coastal resilience worldwide.

The meeting marked an important step in developing the Resilient Coastal Human Communities and Ecosystems Solution Blueprint, one of eight action-oriented Blueprints being prepared for the 2027 Ocean Decade Conference in Rio de Janeiro. The initiative contributes to Ocean Decade Challenge 6, which aims to increase community resilience to ocean hazards.

CMCC representatives Nadia Pinardi, Giulia Galluccio and Giovanni Coppini took part in the workshop, contributing to the discussions and the collaborative development of the Solution Blueprint.

For CMCC, the workshop was an opportunity not only to host the international scientific community, but also to contribute its expertise in coastal ocean forecasting, climate modelling, multi-hazard early warning systems, adaptation planning and capacity development to the development of the Blueprint.

Discussions in Milan addressed the interconnected challenges facing coastal regions, from sea-level rise, coastal flooding and erosion to marine heatwaves, river delta sustainability and ecosystem conservation. Contributions from different geographical regions and international initiatives, including CoastPredict, highlighted the importance of combining scientific advances with regional experience and local priorities.

A key message emerging from the preparatory work for the Blueprint was the persistent gap between scientific knowledge and its practical application. A survey involving 57 Ocean Decade Actions found that 72% of respondents reported difficulties in transferring knowledge effectively to decision-makers, underlining the need for approaches that go beyond scientific research alone, connecting knowledge and technological innovation with operational services, institutional capabilities, stakeholder engagement and decision-making.

CMCC contributes to the Blueprint by bringing together its expertise in climate and ocean science, coastal forecasting and risk assessment, alongside its experience in training and knowledge transfer. This cross-cutting contribution supports the three interconnected priorities at the heart of the initiative: strengthening people-centred multi-hazard early warning systems, turning scientific evidence into effective coastal adaptation strategies, and building the skills and awareness needed to put solutions into practice.

During the workshop, participants identified critical gaps, shared priorities and implementation milestones towards the 2027 Ocean Decade Conference, 2030 and beyond. The next steps will focus on identifying implementation barriers, enabling conditions, partnerships and resources needed to advance the Blueprint.