On October 8–9, 2025, Valparaíso became the epicenter of a binational dialogue on climate resilience. The International Symposium on Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change, held at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, brought together experts from Chile and California to address a challenge that deeply affects both territories: the vulnerability of their extensive coastal zones.
The event—driven by the Chile California Conservation Exchange (a key initiative of the Chile California Council to promote environmental conservation collaboration between Chile and California), the Municipality of Viña del Mar, CIGIDEN, and the University of Valparaíso—focused on the urgency of building adaptation capacities in response to the impacts of the climate crisis.
The urgent need to act in coastal areas
Chile and California, with their long and densely populated coasts, face similar threats: sea-level rise, intensified swells, and rapid habitat and beach erosion. These phenomena directly impact territorial planning, critical infrastructure, and especially the most vulnerable coastal communities.
The symposium highlighted the need to shift planning paradigms toward solutions that integrate both biodiversity protection and the safety of people and assets.
A high-level exchange for resilience
The event became a fundamental platform for technical knowledge sharing between the “Trans-hemispheric Twins.” Through presentations and panel discussions, participants explored:
- Local and global impacts: Effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems and infrastructure.
- Adaptation strategies: Public policy design and engineering solutions for coastal resilience and risk prevention.
- Best practices: Comparative insights from Chilean and Californian leaders on disaster management and marine spatial planning.
These efforts are vital for strengthening bilateral cooperation not only in disaster management but also in environmental conservation and sustainability—essential pillars for climate resilience across the Pacific.
