Overview

• Two hundred coastal cities have formed a UN-backed alliance headquartered in Nice and chaired by Mayor Christian Estrosi to address rising sea levels.
• The alliance plans to hold regular online conferences and an annual summit—scheduled next year in Morocco—to share best practices and mobilize funding for adaptation measures.
• Representatives from 130 countries at the UN Ocean Conference will table self-commitments targeting SDG14 goals, including cutting marine pollution and designating 30 percent of ocean areas as protected by 2030.
• French President Emmanuel Macron called for increased investment in marine science and lamented recent cuts to research funding as essential for effective ocean stewardship.
• Members intend to leverage the alliance’s collective voice at future UN climate negotiations to secure binding support for coastal resilience and ocean conservation.