The Open University (OU) has been awarded over £129,000 in funding to support a pioneering research project aimed at transforming how seawall policies are developed and implemented in response to climate-driven sea level rise. The project, titled Supporting Evidence-Driven Policymaking for Seawalls to Mitigate Sea Level Rise, seeks to promote more inclusive, just, and context-sensitive coastal adaptation strategies, with a focus on Indonesia - one of the world’s most at-risk nations from rising seas.

Led by an interdisciplinary team at the OU, the project will bring together expertise from across the social sciences, natural sciences, and international collaborators to address a critical challenge in global climate adaptation. Rather than relying solely on technocratic and externally imposed models, the team will explore how a wider range of evidence - such as local knowledge, cultural values, and community wellbeing - can inform more effective and equitable decision-making around seawall construction.

The project emerged through a shared recognition among researchers and international partners that current approaches to seawall policy in many low- and middle-income countries often overlook the lived experiences and traditional knowledge of coastal communities. The project also responds to a growing recognition that if projects are implemented without fair and inclusive decision-making processes, they may not protect the most at-risk people and places.

By tracing how different types of evidence shape seawall policy in Indonesia, the research team aims to uncover new pathways for country-to-country learning and identify where interventions can support more inclusive policymaking. The work is grounded in approaches from social science that question whose knowledges and experiences are prioritised in decision-making, identifying approaches to ensure that voices from diverse communities are not only heard but influence how climate resilience strategies are designed and implemented.

This project directly aligns with the OU’s mission to address pressing societal challenges by generating impactful, solution-oriented research that benefits communities worldwide. It showcases the University’s commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global engagement on critical environmental issues.

Ultimately, the project aspires to deliver real-world impact by improving how climate adaptation policies are created - ensuring that they are not only scientifically sound but also socially just and responsive to the needs of those most affected. The funding marks another significant milestone in the OU’s growing portfolio of transformative research aimed at creating a more equitable and sustainable future.