Coastal communities worldwide face increasing climate risks such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and intensified storms, threatening nearly one billion people globally. Enhancing community resilience — the capacity to anticipate, withstand, and transform in response to climate disturbances — is therefore vital and aligns closely with international frameworks including the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite advances in climate adaptation research, critical gaps remain: initiatives often lack integration of local and indigenous knowledge, suffer from top-down implementation approaches, and face governance and resource constraints, leading to disjointed or ineffective outcomes. Additionally, social science perspectives addressing behaviour, risk perception, economic diversity, and social equity remain underrepresented. Emerging solutions offer promise, particularly nature-based strategies such as mangrove and wetland restoration, participatory planning, knowledge co-production involving diverse stakeholders, and livelihood diversification to enhance economic resilience. Technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence and language-processing tools, also provide novel ways to improve public engagement, knowledge synthesis, scenario planning, and policy analysis. These inclusive and integrative approaches align with global frameworks, notably the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, paving the way for resilient coastal communities.

This research topic aims to advance interdisciplinary knowledge on community resilience and climate adaptation in coastal areas. We seek innovative methodologies and evidence-based solutions that bridge science, policy, and community practice. Contributions should illuminate actionable pathways to strengthen resilience, enhance socio-economic security, and ensure equity and inclusivity in adaptation efforts.

We invite manuscripts (original research, reviews, policy analyses, or case studies) focusing on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Case studies highlighting effective adaptation practices and lessons learned.

• Innovative governance structures and policy approaches to coastal climate adaptation.

• Integration of Indigenous and community-based knowledge into adaptation planning.

• Strategies for effective risk communication and public engagement.

• Development and assessment of metrics for community resilience.

• Economic diversification strategies and sustainable livelihood solutions.

• Equity, justice, and inclusion in adaptation initiatives.

• Technological innovations supporting adaptation, including artificial intelligence, large language models (LLMs), geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, mobile applications, and other digital or data-driven tools.

Other relevant contributions within this scope are also encouraged.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Resilient Coasts: Adapting Communities and Livelihoods to Climate Change