Safeguarding Coastal Urban Futures Through Climate Adaptation

• Grant number: 25/21256-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: June 02, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Débora Martins de Freitas
• Grantee: Brenda Silva dos Reis
• Supervisor: Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB-CLP). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental do Litoral Paulista. São Vicente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/07436-3 - Evaluation of Carbon Sequestration in the Mangroves of the Baixada Santista in Different Conservation Contexts, BP.IC

Abstract

Coastal regions are highly exposed to climate change, facing compounding impacts from sea level rise, flooding, erosion, and ecosystem degradation. These threats disproportionately affect vulnerable coastal communities, underscoring the urgent need for effective climate adaptation and resilience strategies . While governments worldwide have developed frameworks to guide these efforts, their scope, priorities, and applicability vary significantly. This project aims to conduct a comparative analysis between two pioneering climate adaptation frameworks: Victoria's Resilient Coast - Adapting for 2100+ (Australia) and the Plano Estadual de Adaptação e Resiliência Climática (PEARC, 2025) of São Paulo (Brazil). While the Victorian framework emphasizes long-term adaptation pathways, governance triggers, and the hierarchy of adaptation actions, the São Paulo plan stands out for its focus on climate justice, social vulnerability, and cross-sectoral integration. The comparative analysis will highlight convergences, divergences, and lessons that can be translated across contexts.The research will combine three complementary approaches: (1) a document-based comparative framework analysis; (2) a multilevel stakeholder consultation in both regions, exploring their perceptions, challenges, and priorities for climate adaptation and the role of coastal wetlands in safeguarding coastal communities; and (3) a case study in São Vicente (São Paulo - Baixada Santista), applying the comparative insights to propose a practical roadmap for local adaptation.Expected outputs include a draft of a peer-reviewed scientific article, a roadmap for São Vicente with concrete short-, medium-, and long-term actions, and public dissemination materials (infographic and policy brief) to support decision-makers and raise community awareness. The project will also foster international collaboration with RMIT University (Australia), providing training in comparative policy analysis and climate resilience.By bridging science, policy, and practice, this research will advance the understanding of climate adaptation frameworks while offering practical recommendations for coastal resilience in vulnerable Brazilian municipalities.