Coastal adaptation and managed retreat planning tools

Climate change isn't a distant threat — it's already reshaping where people can safely live and work. Communities worldwide are facing floods, heat waves, wildfires, and storms that are more intense and frequent than anything in living memory. Yet most places lack the tools, knowledge, or financial resources to prepare for what's coming next.

The gap between climate science and local action is enormous. Global climate models can tell us the planet is warming, but a city mayor needs to know which neighborhoods will flood, which roads will buckle in extreme heat, and how to protect residents who can't afford air conditioning. Without this kind of practical, local information, communities are flying blind into an increasingly dangerous future.

This isn't just about building sea walls or planting trees. It's about creating entirely new systems — for predicting risks, designing solutions, and paying for protection — that can keep pace with a rapidly changing climate.

Sea level rise and stronger storms are putting millions of coastal residents at risk. What used to be rare flooding events are becoming routine, and storm surges are reaching farther inland than ever before. Many coastal communities were built assuming stable sea levels and predictable storm patterns that no longer exist.

The challenge isn't just protecting against today's risks, but preparing for decades of continued sea level rise and potentially more intense hurricanes. Some areas may need to be abandoned entirely, while others can be protected with the right investments. Communities need tools to understand their options and make difficult decisions about their future.

These platforms help communities plan for the long-term reality of sea level rise, including the difficult decision of when and how to relocate people and infrastructure away from the coast. They analyze different adaptation options — from building seawalls to relocating entire neighborhoods — and help communities understand the costs and benefits of each approach.

Managed retreat is often the most cost-effective long-term solution for highly vulnerable areas, but it requires careful planning to ensure that displaced communities have somewhere to go and that the process is fair and equitable.