COREDAR for cities: Developing a capacity building tool for sea-level rise risk communication and urban community-based adaptation

Abstract

Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the greatest threats for densely populated low-lying coastal cities. Building capacities at community level to address the challenges of SLR is an important first step towards adaptation planning. However, efforts and attention for community based adaptation (CBA) in urban coastal cities are often ignored and not given much importance. Thus, building capacity through SLR risk communication and involving communities in framing urban CBA is a high priority for cities. Nevertheless, it is a difficult task for climate scientists to communicate complex SLR science and build capacity at local level. To address these challenges, this study has put forth three research questions through the lens of SLR risk communication and urban CBA, as (1) What, if any, community engagement in risk communication in addressing SLR risk occurring in urban areas; (2) What information does communities need and (3) How does it need to be communicated, in order to be better prepared and have a greater sense of agency? To answer these questions, by following the framework on SLR risk communication and urban CBA, this study has resulted in evolving “COREDAR” (COmmunicating Risk of sea-level rise and Engaging stakeholDers in framing community-based Adaptation stRategies), a capacity building tool for SLR risk communication and urban CBA. Thus, this study seeks to provide insights on communicating the risk of SLR and to evolve a robust picture of urban CBA through effective decision-making that is grounded in pressing community priorities by developing a capacity building tool for urban coastal cities.