International Workshop on Building Resilience for Coastal Communities

Jul 22, 2024, Ling Meng

The International Workshop on Building Resilience for Coastal Communities was held at the National Press Club, Canberra, Australia, from 18-19 July 2024. The workshop was organized by a Science led UNSW Canberra Coastal Resilience multi-disciplinary research group. The key objectives of the workshop are
•            Establish a network for international collaboration
•            Apply for UN Decade Ocean Science Program and ARC ITRP funding
•            Further engage industry partners

In particular, the workshop discussed challenges in building resilient coastal communities in Australia, China, Canada, Japan, South Korea, France, Mexico, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam. There are over 30 attendees participating both online and in person. Key topics included local data collection, small-scale fisheries, coastal protection and restoration, disaster relief, digital transformation of ports and harbours, and education and research capacity building.

Innovative infrastructure designs for biodiversity, coastal management research in Singapore, and China's coastal city resilience focusing on urban renewal were discussed. Fishery management in Indonesia emphasized small-scale fisheries and gender inclusivity. Vietnam's research covered coral reefs, climate change impacts, and ecosystem restoration. Renewable energy for offshore islands, focusing on marine energy potential and international cooperation, was examined.

The New South Wales dredging program, Earth observation for water quality, and flood-related issues were highlighted. Coastal protection and resilience programs stressed interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships. Discussions included sustainable materials for water filtration, coastal erosion, sea level rise and flooding, environmental degradation, coastal habitat restoration, and the need for multi-disciplinary collaboration. A new adaptable Introduction to Oceanography course was introduced. The workshop concluded with a field trip to Batemans Bay and Ulladulla, New South Wales, on 19 July. Based on this workshop and the interests of researchers from various countries, a UN Decade Ocean Project entitled ‘Building coastal resilience against climate’ will be applied under the UN Decade Ocean Programme ‘SUstainability, Predictability and REsilience of Marine Ecosystems (SUPREME)’.
The workshop was supported by UNSW GRIP program and School of Science UNSW Canberra.