On 11 November at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the event “Empowering Coastal Communities: Science-Based Solutions for Resilience and Adaptation” discussed the importance of science-based pathways and the involvement of local communities in creating their own resilience process.

Chaired by Giulia Galluccio, Director of the CMCC Foundation’s Advanced Training and Education Center, the session presented at the Italian Pavilion was organised by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience (CoastPredict) and co-organised by the CMCC Foundation.

The event brought together voices from around the world to showcase the diversity of coastal challenges and the potential of shared learning through global networks. Speakers from the academia and international organisations from the Tropical Americas and Caribbean, the South Pacific, and Western Asia gathered at the session to explore new ways of connecting knowledge with action, highlighting that effective coastal resilience begins locally. The speakers emphasised that real change often begins at the pilot site level, where communities experience the effects of climate change first-hand. Local observations, needs and solutions can then be transformed into operational science to inform broader adaptation strategies.

The event also delivered a key message: the importance of education and training for young researchers in scaling up innovative climate solutions through an operational, science-based approach in both the Global North and South. In this sense, providing early career professionals with educational opportunities in interdisciplinary and cross-cutting climate discussions is a vital instrument for long-term climate preparedness.

In this sense, the upcoming FERS School on ‘Coastal Resilience to Sea Level Rise’ is a valuable opportunity for young researchers and professionals to develop the skills needed to analyse the risks of sea level rise, evaluate coastal vulnerabilities, and utilise state-of-the-art data and tools for decision-making. By equipping the next generation with the tools to address coastal climate challenges and develop their potential solutions, the school will help to promote effective coastal resilience and encourage the adoption of science-based solutions that will help shape the future of coastal communities worldwide.