Exploring how ocean science, regional cooperation, and capacity development are helping Small Island Developing States and coastal communities adapt to a changing climate.
Published on 29 June 2026 | News
The fourth episode of Green Tides: Resilience Conversations, the podcast series developed by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience (DCC-CR), is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Titled Building Resilience for Islands and Coastal Communities, the episode focuses on one of the regions most exposed to the impacts of climate change: Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and vulnerable coastal communities around the world.
As sea-level rise, coastal erosion, marine heatwaves, and increasingly frequent extreme events reshape coastlines and livelihoods, island nations are facing some of the most immediate consequences of a changing ocean. Yet these same regions are also emerging as important examples of how science, international cooperation, and local capacity development can support resilience and sustainable coastal futures.
In this episode, listeners explore how ocean science can be translated into practical actions that strengthen preparedness, improve decision-making, and support communities living on the frontline of climate change. The discussion highlights the importance of regional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term investment in scientific capacity to address challenges that extend beyond national borders.
The episode features Lorna Inniss, Head of the IOCARIBE Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and Wenxi Zhu, Head of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
Drawing on their experience across the Caribbean and the Western Pacific, they discuss how international cooperation and regional networks are helping countries strengthen ocean governance, improve scientific capabilities, and build more resilient coastal communities through shared knowledge and coordinated action.
Green Tides: Resilience Conversations is a five-episode podcast series developed by the DCC-CR to explore the science, people, and ideas shaping coastal resilience around the world. Following episodes on the foundations of coastal resilience, education and capacity development, and the Digital Twin of the Ocean, Episode 4 turns its attention to the communities living at the frontline of climate change and the collaborative approaches that can help strengthen their resilience.
The fifth and final episode of the first season will be released next Monday.
Follow the podcast on your preferred streaming platform and stay tuned for the final conversation of the series.