Special Report – Managed Retreat: Preparing Coastal Cities for Sea Level Rise

The special report Managed Retreat: Preparing Coastal Cities for Sea Level Rise, published by the Ocean & Climate Platform as part of the Sea’ties initiative, offers a comprehensive exploration of managed retreat as a proactive adaptation strategy for coastal urban areas confronting the escalating threats of sea-level rise. Anticipating potential sea-level increases exceeding one meter by 2100, the report underscores the necessity of transitioning from reactive emergency responses to planned, equitable, and sustainable relocation efforts.

This strategy is presented not merely as a last-resort measure but as an opportunity to reimagine and transform coastal regions, enhancing social equity, biodiversity, and resilience.

The report delves into critical aspects of implementing managed retreat, addressing the rationale behind choosing this approach, the spatial scales at which it should be applied, the timing and phasing of relocation efforts, and the principles ensuring fairness and sustainability. It emphasizes the importance of dynamic adaptation pathways, inclusive governance, and community engagement to facilitate acceptance and effectiveness. Through case studies from regions such as Saint-Louis in Senegal and coastal areas in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and southwestern France, the report illustrates the practical challenges and successes of managed retreat initiatives. These examples highlight the need for coordinated policies, adequate funding, and comprehensive planning to support communities in transition. Ultimately, the report advocates for integrating managed retreat into broader adaptation frameworks, recognizing it as a vital component in safeguarding coastal cities against the irreversible impacts of climate change.