Maybe a decade ago, I first became aware of sea level rise being flagged as a serious warning sign. I confess that, back then, a couple of centimeters per year didn’t seem that alarming. Now, I grasp much better the dangers – and in many cases, the already existing effects – of climate change on coastlines. Sea level rise, for one, increases the risk of saltwater flooding and damages coastal habitats. But there’s also coastal erosion, and ever more intense weather events.

Nature-based strategies—like rain gardens, green roofs, or coastal mangroves—are gaining ground for water management and climate adaptation in these areas. Across Europe, Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs) are testing these approaches, pairing science and community to build sustainable and resilient responses. A CCLL, in case you’re wondering, could be defined as a climate resilience sandbox addressing — specifically for cities near the sea — where citizens, researchers, and local governments experiment with ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA), and technologies like low-cost sensors and digital twins. Ten pilot cities, from Barcelona on the Mediterranean to Oulou in the north of the Baltic Sea, are using these living labs to co-design early warning systems, adapt infrastructure, and share learnings.

One of the pilots is set on Ireland’s rugged northwest coast, in the city of Sligo, which – despite its modest population of 20,000 – is a historical, cultural (think poet W.B. Yeats), industrial, and service centre of great regional importance. Climate projections for Sligo and its county show up to 1 metre of sea-level rise by 2100, and stronger storms. Meanwhile, erosion has already claimed ancient sites, and heritage venues have shut down after repeated flooding. In response, the Sligo CCLL, led by the Atlantic Technological University, focuses on three vulnerable areas: Streedagh Beach, Dunmoran Strand, and Enniscrone. To monitor sea levels and coastal erosion, the lab is deploying low-cost sensors – often mounted by local residents using simple tools like kites and smartphones – to track shoreline changes and storm damage in real time. Sligo’s storm surge model, also developed by the lab, feeds into a growing “digital twin” of the county—a 3D simulation that tests ‘what-if’ climate scenarios and supports long-term planning. The Sligo CCLL has also developed a policy brief urging Sligo County Council to integrate lab findings into its climate strategies, and highlighting the role of EBAs like afforestation and peatland restoration in the local context.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the risks and responses for coastal cities around the world, check out the SEA’TIES map by the Ocean & Climate Platform. It showcases real-world examples of how cities are learning to live with rising seas — because, yes, those few centimeters ‘of nothing’… matter.