The first Cities on the Frontline Speaker session of the year will focus on the growing risk of sea level rise for coastal cities. By 2050, 800 million people and 570 cities will face rising seas, threatening infrastructure and communities. Traditional solutions, like flood barriers, often increase the risk of flooding by restricting the foreshore’s ability to absorb wave energy, storm surges, and runoff.
Arnoud Molenaar will discuss scalable, climate-resilient floating infrastructure, while Maria Stamati will present the Sea Level Rise Catalogue, exploring adaptive strategies including floating solutions and nature-based defenses.