COAST-SCAPES project kicks off in Barcelona, Spain
The COAST-SCAPES project officially kicked off in Barcelona, bringing together partners from Europe, Africa, and Latin America to advance a shared vision for climate-resilient coastal landscapes. Hosted by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) from the 7th to the 9th of October, the three-day meeting marked the beginning of an ambitious international collaboration addressing some of the most pressing land-coast-sea challenges.
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from the Vice-Rector of Technology Transfer and Innovation and the Dean of the School of Civil Engineering at UPC, alongside the project coordinator, Prof. Manel Grifoll. They highlighted the urgency of systemic, science-based approaches to coastal resilience and the importance of international cooperation in tackling climate-related risks.
A central focus of the program was the presentation of the project’s nine demonstration sites, where COAST-SCAPES’ solutions will be tested and implemented. The project’s pilots include diverse coastal environments, such as the Ebro Delta (Spain), the Danube Delta (Romania), and Scotland’s coastal systems, as well as sites in Mozambique and Ecuador, each addressing unique regional challenges.
The second day of the meeting focused on the project’s six Work Packages (WPs), which form the operational backbone of COAST-SCAPES:
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WP1: Systemic land–coast–sea analyses under present and future conditions
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WP2: Cross-sectoral evaluation and modelling of resilience solutions
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WP3: Co-designed resilience solutions developed with empowered regions and communities
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WP4: Replication and transfer of scalable adaptation and resilience plans
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WP5: Dissemination and communication for practical exploitation of results
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WP6: Project management and cooperation for systemic climate resilience
The final day of the kick-off meeting was dedicated to a field visit to the Ebro Delta - one of the project’s key replicating pilots. Participants explored the area’s geomorphological, hydrological, and ecological characteristics, gaining firsthand insight into the complex dynamics of a Mediterranean delta system under climate pressure. The visit included:
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Lo Passador Bridge, where partners observed the formation of a salt-wedge estuary at the mouth of the Ebro River
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L’Alfacada coastal lagoon, showcasing a connectivity restoration initiative
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El Trabucador barrier beach, a strategic site where nature-based solutions are being explored to enhance coastal stability
The kick-off meeting concluded with a joint dinner hosted at the newly renovated building of the Association of Civil Engineers of Catalonia. During the evening, Carles Conill, President of the Commission of Water, Energy, and Climate Change, emphasized the vital role of collaboration, innovation, and cross-sector engagement in shaping coastal resilience.
The consortium extends its sincere gratitude to the coordination team at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and especially to Prof. Manel Grifoll and Eva Pavo-Fernández, for the excellent organisation of the kick-off meeting.
