Countries which govern half the world's territorial oceans have yet to integrate ocean-focused solutions into their nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, due for an update by February 2025.
Given their outsized economic role, strengthening the resilience of coastal communities is not just a regional or national priority but a global imperative.
The upcoming climate summit needs to address how storms are becoming more impactful closer to the coast. Preparing for such events is more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath of inadequate preparation.