Global climate change is one of the greatest environmental threats and affects every country on every continent. However, coastal regions are especially vulnerable to climate change because, in addition to changes in temperature, precipitation, and more frequent flooding, they will be affected by rising sea levels, wave heights, and accelerated coastal erosion. Coastal areas are also highly populated, with vulnerable urban centres near the coastal belt.

In order to better protect these urban centres, adaptation to climate change will be vital. In addressing this adaptation challenge, there is a need to change the way in which we design, construct, retrofit, and maintain the built environment.In the process of climate change adaptation, the adaptation measures in the built environment during design, construction and retrofitting become the kick-off point since it will dictate the outset of the built environment in future. In addressing this adaptation challenge there is a clear need to change the way in which design, construct, retrofitting, and maintenance is done to accommodate the anticipated changes. In framing the climate adaptation challenge for the built environment, it is most appropriate to align this in line with the SDGs and SFDRR as they demarcate and set out the global standards in addressing the climate change impacts, climate change as a key enabler for disasters, and sustainable development.

The BEACON (Built Environment leArning for Climate adaptatioN) project, a collaborative research effort co-funded by the EU Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, aims to enhance efforts on climate change adaptation in the built environment in coastal regions. In this session, members of the BEACON team will share emerging findings from the research, including insights into the climate change adaptation process in the coastal built environment, aligning with the three landmark global agendas: the Paris Agreement; the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. Feedback from attendees will be used to guide the next stage of the research.