On Wednesday 9th February started the One Ocean Summit, the first international summit dedicated to the ocean organised by France. Right in the heart of the city of Brest, more than 400 actors from all over the world are meeting to discuss the major issues of ocean conservation and the transformation of the maritime sector. Organised as part of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (January-June 2022), this event aims to “raise the level of ambition of the international community on maritime issues and translate our shared responsibility for the Ocean into concrete actions”.
Among the many topics aroused during the summit, the Ocean & Climate Platform, the French Government and the City of Brest, with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, are shedding light on the challenges of adapting coastal cities to rising sea levels with the Sea’ties Forum “Cities and their territories tackling sea level rise” (10 February, 2.00-3.30pm).
It is about addressing an issue that, in many ways, is already central to coastal populations and elected officials. The consequences of sea level rise, such as marine submersion, beach and cliff erosion or salinisation of groundwater, are already clearly visible on the world’s coasts. In the future, these phenomena are foreseen to have a growing impact on coastal cities and territories, as these areas continue to attract global populations: by 2050, more than one billion people could be living on coasts and be directly exposed to these threats. In this regard, it is urgent to implement effective, sustainable and equitable mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect populations and ecosystems.
In order to unite high-level actors and make these messages heard, this Forum brings together mayors and governors of coastal cities from all over the world and invites them to sign the “Sea’ties Declaration“. Calling for an acceleration in the transformation of cities and their territories, this declaration highlights four priority actions: (1) the mobilisation of science and observation systems, (2) the integration of societal issues within adaptation plans, (3) the fostering of adaptive and hybrid solutions, and (4) the increase of public funding and private investments for adaptation to sea level rise.
Already signed by about thirty cities, including New Orleans, Vancouver, Bangkok, Lagos and Salvador, this declaration is the first step of an international mobilisation for mitigation and adaptation to sea level rise. By supporting this call to action, the mayors and governors, who are the first acting witnesses of the changes, are urging the international community and the Heads of States and Governments present in Brest to take up this challenge and endorse them in their transition. Ahead of the United Nations conference on the ocean (27 June – 1 July, Lisbon) that should give a prominent place to adaptation, this declaration is an opportunity to make the voice of coastal populations heard as well as to prepare international commitments.
Click on the image below to read the full declaration
