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CCAT 2021: Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice Across Borders 2021 – 19th to 21st Oct. 2021
19th October 2021 - 21st October 2021

Following the success of our first CCAT cross border event in 2020, the CCAT held a second virtual networking and knowledge exchange event, Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT): Exchanging Knowledge and Best Practice across borders on October 19th, 20th and 21st 2021. As we explored in our event in 2020, coastal communities are at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, adaptation, resilience and associated coastal management decisions and planning.
Through the Coastal Communities Adapting Together (CCAT) project, we have been working to support coastal communities in Pembrokeshire (Wales) and Fingal (Dublin) to understand the impact of climate change, and how it might impact their local communities.
Drawing on feedback from our first event, we recognise that there are more conversations to be had – opportunities remain to learn from what others are doing and to build on existing best practice in policy and management, for both coastal management and climate change. Through this second virtual event, co-organised by Cardiff University and the wider CCAT team, we brought together a diverse range of practitioners and academics, with expertise in policymaking, coastal management, climate change adaptation, community engagement and heard from some youth voices in Ireland and Wales.
Programme English / Welsh
DAY 1 recordings here
DAY 2 recordings here
DAY 3 recordings here
Some of the presentations are also available below
Day 1: October 19th – Climate Change on the Coast
Chair (Emma McKinley)
10:00 Welcome
10:10 Welcome from Pembrokeshire County Council – Cllr Josh Benyon, Pembrokeshire County Council –
10:20 Introduction to CCAT – Karen Foley, University College Dublin – Presentation
10:30 ‘Coastal Erosion and Climate Change – Guidance for Policymakers, Planners and Stakeholders’ –
Professor Robin McInnes, Coastal & Geotechnical Services – Presentation
11:00 Climate Ireland – James Fitton, University College Cork/MaREI
11:20 Break
11:30 Climate Cymru – Ize Adava – Presentation
11:50 Climate Adaptation and Nature Conservation at the German North Sea Coast – Cormac Walsh, Independent Researcher and Consultant – Presentation
12:10 Fairbourne Moving Forward – Huw Williams –YGC – Presentation
12:30 Discussion session
12:55 Closing comments and event ends at 1pm
Day 2: October 20th – Climate Change Education and Youth Voices
Chair (Emma McKinley)
10:00 Welcome
10:05 CCAT animation presentation
10:15 Hear Our Voice: 7-18-year-olds and the climate emergency – Verity Jones – University of West of England – Presentation
10:35 Dublin Bay Biosphere – Dean Eaton – Presentation
10:50 Climate anxiety in children and young people – Catriona Mellor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist,
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust – Presentation
11:10 Resilient sandy shores & the ReAShore project – Professor Kathelijne Wijnberg, University of Twente – Presentation
11:30 Break
11:40 Coasts and Climate Change Integrating with The New Welsh Curriculum 2022
Gwyn Nelson, Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre
11:55 Climate Activism – Saoirse Exton, Equality Officer for ISSU
12:05 Climate Change and Youth Speakers across the Irish Sea
- St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush, Co. Dublin
- Ysgol Bro Gwaun, Fishguard, Wales
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Youth Rangers
12:35 Discussion session
12:55 Closing Comments and event ends at 1pm
Day 3: October 21st – Engaging Communities on Climate Change
Chair (Emma McKinley)
10:00 Welcome – Jean-Francois Dulong, Wales Coastal Group Forum Chair
10:10 Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum,CCAT presentation – NRW project – Alex Cameron-Smith – Presentation
10:25 Ecostructure – Eco-engineering: addressing climate change at the local beach, Ruth Callaway, Swansea University – Presentation
10:45 Pembroke Dock Marine – Tim James, Port of Milford Haven – Presentation
11:05 Nature-Based Solutions – Hans Visser, Biodiversity Officer, Fingal County Council
11:20 Break
11:30 Future-oriented and sustainable
communities: visions and actionable strategies – Alexandra Revez, University College Cork / SECAD
11:50 Coastal Climate Adaptation in Ireland: a Policy Review – Fernanda Stori, CCAT/University College Cork/MaREI
12:10 LIVE EcoMuseum – Lucy Taylor, University College Cork
12:30 Discussion Session
12:55 Closing Comments and event ends at 1pm