A new systematic review published in Heliyon by Catharina Dwi Astuti Depari addresses precisely this gap. While decades of research have documented coastal flooding trends, risk assessments, nature-based mitigation technologies and scenario-based projections of future impacts, relatively little synthesis has been devoted to the specific in situ adaptation strategies adopted by coastal communities themselves, and to the barriers and enablers shaping those strategies, particularly in the Global South. Using the PRISMA procedure, the review screened 2,175 records identified through a Scopus database search conducted in February 2025, narrowed them through successive rounds of eligibility assessment in Scopus and the EPPI-Reviewer software developed at University College London, and subjected 45 records to in-depth qualitative and bibliometric analysis.

The corpus revealed a research field that is growing but uneven. The earliest qualifying record was published in 2008, and publications fluctuated before peaking in 2023 with 13 records. A bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer identified ‘climate change’ as the dominant keyword, appearing 20 times and strongly linked with ‘adaptation’, ‘vulnerability’ and ‘adaptive capacity’, while ‘coastal areas’ and ‘coastal community’ emerged as the newest themes in 2023 and 2024. Geographically, studies clustered in Central and Southern Asia, which accounted for 25 percent of study areas, followed by Eastern and Southeastern Asia at 16 percent, with Bangladesh and the United States dominating the case locations. Fifty-one percent of records involved multiple cases within a single region, and 11 percent spanned multiple regions, yet longitudinal studies tracking adaptation dynamics over time were conspicuously scarce.

Methodologically, the field splits along a striking regional line. About 53 percent of the reviewed studies employed qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews, and these were primarily situated in the Global North, reflecting growing appreciation of local voices and knowledge in disaster risk reduction. Mixed-methods and quantitative studies, by contrast, were predominantly found in the Global South, where researchers analyzed local adaptation, risk and vulnerability, effective techniques for small-scale fishers, the role of social networks, and the microlevel conditions enabling adaptation. This split matters because barriers and enablers tied to social and psychological dimensions surfaced mainly in qualitative and mixed-methods records, whereas physical, environmental, financial and political dimensions appeared chiefly in quantitative work.

The review catalogued 59 coded adaptation measures across six categories. Hard strategies, including levees, dams, sea walls, dikes, island fortifications and storm surge barriers, appeared in both regions, but they carry high costs and ecological penalties, from disrupted sedimentation to reduced species diversity. Levees, the most frequently cited hard measure at 33 percent, can raise flood levels elsewhere, deepen environmental injustice by protecting wealthier communities, and fail catastrophically when design capacities are exceeded. Soft strategies, dominated by mangroves at 33 percent of 24 identified measures, were concentrated in the tropical Global South, in countries such as India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Mexico. Mangroves dissipate waves and winds, absorb floodwater, store carbon dioxide, trap sediments and buffer against tsunamis and storm surges, making them a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to concrete.

Accommodation strategies, the most numerous category at 64 coded measures, were largely concentrated in the Global South. They ranged from improving drainage and public infrastructure to sealing leaks, raising floor levels, constructing floating platforms and an extraordinary diversity of agricultural adjustments, including salt-tolerant crops, hanging gardens, tower farming and integrated fish-pond management. Retreat strategies, such as temporary relocation and permanent migration, were identified mainly in Nicaragua, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Bangladesh, with one remarkable case in the Maldives, where the government plans to move the entire population to Hulhumalé, an artificial island built in 1997, because 80 percent of the nation’s atolls sit less than one meter above mean sea level. Attack strategies, which extend the coastline seaward through land reclamation and floating structures, appeared in only one record, from the Baltic Sea region, where hard land-water interfaces were transformed into soft transition zones with barrier parks and floating public spaces.

When it came to barriers, ten categories emerged from 211 coded entries, and institutional barriers topped the list at 30 percent, with cases predominantly in the Global South. Poor coordination between agencies was common to both regions and can produce dangerous confusion, such as unreliable information about evacuation shelter locations during emergencies. Environmental barriers accounted for 17 percent, sociocultural-economic barriers 14 percent, physical barriers 11 percent and financial barriers 9 percent. The physical consequences of maladaptation are vivid: in La Encrucijada, Mexico, levees altered river flow, increasing sedimentation, killing mangroves and destroying flood buffers, while in Bangladesh, polder communities deliberately breach embankments to let saline water reach their shrimp farms. Financial constraints bite hardest in low-income settings, from Tuvalu’s dependence on international aid to Lagos households unable to afford the sand and concrete needed to periodically raise their floors, leaving them acutely exposed. Psychological barriers, including low-risk perception, sense of place and intergenerational trauma, clustered in Global North records, with one case in Vanuatu showing how sacred attachment to ancestral lagoon sites can fuel resistance to relocation.

Against these obstacles, the review identified 107 enabling factors across 13 categories, and social cohesion led overwhelmingly at 29 percent, especially in the Global South. Mutual cooperation took tangible forms: neighbors lending money for post-disaster home reconstruction, collectively building protective infrastructure, evacuating vulnerable residents and sharing livelihood assets. Collaboration accounted for 20 percent, exemplified by partnerships between local governments in King County, Chicago and New York and universities producing climate forecasts, and by farmers in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta co-developing economic groups with the state to combat saltwater intrusion. Government assistance, at 14 percent, ranged from training and financial incentives in the Global North to logistics, protective infrastructure and community education in Bangladesh, Tuvalu and the Philippines. Local knowledge, at 9 percent, proved a quiet powerhouse: indigenous forecasting systems in the Global South, reading signs such as strange river sounds, muddy water smells and rising water levels, helped reduce fatalities long before formal warnings arrived.

From this synthesis the author derives an actionable framework linking adaptive capacity, adaptation actions, barriers and enablers under the community resilience paradigm, together with guidelines for governments and vulnerable communities. Governments are urged to promote inclusive planning, coordinate across agencies, monitor land-use change, integrate local knowledge with scientific hazard information, adopt ecosystem-based and hybrid approaches to limit maladaptation, and support communities through every phase of disaster, especially recovery. Communities, for their part, are advised to strengthen social cohesion as a buffer against insufficient state support and to co-develop groups that address livelihoods, environmental management and risk reduction together. The review also sounds a research alarm: future studies must move beyond Bangladesh and the United States toward the underexplored coasts of Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, embrace longitudinal designs that capture adaptation as a dynamic process, and clarify which barriers and enablers attach to which measures. Without such work, well-intentioned infrastructure, like the embankments that inadvertently undermined shrimp farming in the Ganga delta, risks deepening the very vulnerability it was built to reduce.

Subject of Research: A systematic review of barriers and enablers of local coastal flood adaptations in the Global North and Global South

Article Title: Examining barriers and enablers of local adaptations to coastal floods: A systematic review

Article References: Depari, C. D. A. (2026). Examining barriers and enablers of local adaptations to coastal floods: A systematic review. Heliyon, 12(14), Article e45411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2026.e45411

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2026.e45411

Keywords: coastal flooding, climate change adaptation, Global South, systematic review, mangroves, institutional barriers, social cohesion, community resilience, sea level rise, managed retreat, PRISMA, flood risk

The primary aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the risks posed by compound floods, which occur when two or more sources of flooding converge—such as storm surges and heavy rainfall. Unlike traditional flooding models that focus on singular threats, this innovative approach combines multiple variables to project amplified risk levels. The authors employ advanced data analytics techniques to ensure that the findings are not only robust but also highly relevant to policymakers and communities on the front lines of climate change.

Utilizing high-resolution geospatial data, specifically at 0.1-degree resolution, the study synthesizes information related to climate models, socio-economic factors, and geographical features. By marrying these different data sets, Zhang and Convertino created risk maps that encapsulate varying scenarios, helping to visualize potential flooding events within specific geographical contexts. The fine-grained nature of this analysis presents a stark contrast to previous studies that often provided broad estimates at larger scales, which can overlook critical localized vulnerabilities.

One of the study’s most significant contributions is its incorporation of real-time data regarding rising sea levels, which, as per the authors, is pivotal in accurately assessing compound flood risk. Sea levels have been rising due to the melting of polar ice caps and thermal expansion induced by global warming—a phenomenon that is well-documented in climate science. The researchers effectively illustrate how even minor changes in sea level can exponentially increase the risk of flooding when combined with storm surges, particularly in low-lying coastal regions.

Moreover, the research underscores the role of urbanization in amplifying flood risk. Coastal cities, known for their dense populations and critical infrastructure, are often ill-prepared for the compounded effects of climate change. Through their mapping, Zhang and Convertino demonstrate how urban development has increasingly encroached upon vulnerable shorelines without adequate flood defenses, creating a recipe for disaster as global temperatures rise.

A critical aspect of the study revolves around the practical applications of these findings. By providing detailed geographic risk assessments, local governments can make informed decisions regarding urban planning, infrastructure investments, and emergency preparedness strategies. Resilience planning becomes essential in light of these findings, which push for the integration of climate risk into local governance frameworks. The authors advocate for proactive measures to buffer against flooding, including the restoration of natural barriers such as wetlands and mangroves, which serve as effective buffers against storm surges.

However, while the research illuminates the challenges posed by compound floods, it also emphasizes the importance of equitable solutions. Vulnerable communities—often those with limited resources—face the brunt of climate impacts. The authors stress that any adaptive strategies or interventions must be inclusive, considering the needs of all community members to ensure fairness and resilience in a changing environment.

Another compelling element of the study is its visualization tools. The researchers employed cutting-edge data visualization techniques to make their findings accessible to non-specialists. By converting complex data into intuitive visual formats, they hope to enhance public understanding of flood risks. Such tools empower communities by fostering awareness and encouraging civic engagement in climate adaptation efforts.

The ramifications of this research extend beyond mere academic interest. As coastal populations continue to grow in the face of climate change, the implications of compound flooding become critical to food security, infrastructure stability, and overall public health. Failure to address these risks not only endangers coastal livelihoods but can also trigger wider socio-economic consequences, making this research of utmost importance to international audiences concerned about global stability.

Furthermore, it raises an essential point of discourse regarding global climate policy. The findings could serve as a catalyst for more rigorous international cooperation in addressing climate-related flooding risks. Countries must work together to establish standardized risk assessments and data-sharing agreements to effectively respond to the uneven threats posed by climate change across various regions.

Zhang and Convertino’s work ultimately challenges policymakers, urban planners, and community activists to rethink how coastal flood risks are perceived and managed. It spurs a call to action to implement forward-thinking solutions that can withstand the compounded threats posed by our changing climate. As we stand on the precipice of catastrophic climate events, the need for detailed, predictive models becomes increasingly evident—one that not only strives to identify risks but also seeks to promote resilience against them.

In conclusion, the sophisticated analysis presented in this study boldly outlines the pressing realities of coastal compound flood risks as climate change accelerates. The authors have provided vital insights that will empower communities and governments to take meaningful action, ultimately aiming to protect vulnerable populations from the devastating impacts of climate-driven flooding.

The road ahead is fraught with challenges, but armed with this knowledge, society stands a better chance of navigating the uncertain tides of climate adversity.

Subject of Research: Coastal Compound Flood Risk and its Global Mapping

Article Title: Global mapping of potential coastal compound flood risk at 0.1° resolution by Zhang, J., Convertino, M.

Article References:

Zhang, J., Convertino, M. Global mapping of potential coastal compound flood risk at 0.1^∘ resolution.
Commun Earth Environ (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-03155-7

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-03155-7

Keywords: Coastal flooding, climate change, risk mapping, natural disasters, sea level rise, urbanization, resilience planning, socio-economic impacts.