Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit

By 2050, more than one billion people will be facing direct ocean risks, aggravated by rising sea-levels. Although the challenges are multi-dimensional and affect every region leaving no one immune from potential impacts, coastal cities and regions are among the most vulnerable. Timely action is thus of paramount importance to support the adaptation and resilience of coastal cities and regions and ensure a sustainable future, considering each region’s unique characteristics. The Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit aimed to increase the momentum for the required global mobilization for such action.

The Summit brought together representatives of coastal cities and regions, and from island States threatened by rising sea levels, as well as key stakeholders, such as scientific institutions, financial organizations, and civil society representatives. The aim was to find ways to “ensure that our coastal cities and regions remain vibrant hubs of life, culture, nature, and well-being,” as underscored by Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Special Envoy of the French President for the UN Ocean Conference and Ambassador for the Poles and the Ocean.

The Summit’s highlight was the official launch of the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Coalition, an initiative to bring 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 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 all the impacts of sea level rise on coastal areas and major climate impacts to which coastal territories are exposed: erosion, submersion, flooding, salinization, extreme rainfalls, destruction of natural habitats, and their consequences 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, sharing, and use of scientific knowledge and data;
• mobilizing financial actors toward the design and implementation of appropriate financial mechanisms; and
• advocating for the interests of coastal cities and regions in political forums.

The Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit was a special event taking place in advance of the Third UN Ocean Conference (9-13 June). 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.

Celebrating World Oceans Day on 8 June, the Ocean & Climate Platform and The Varda Group hosted a high-level event titled “The Future is Now: Let’s Dive into an Ocean of Possibilities.” The event provided a space for civil society to reimagine our relationship with the Ocean and mobilize meaningful action, building on two participatory initiatives: Let’s be Nice to the Ocean and An Ocean of Possibilities.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D.; and Katarina Hovden. The Photographer was Kiara Worth, Ph.D. The Editor was Leila Mead.

Funding for ENB coverage of the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit was provided by the Ocean & Climate Platform.