Creating a shared vision for Coastal Resilience.
How a ground-up industry coalition Is driving climate adaptation.
It started as a simple gathering of 12 coastal and marine engineering professionals in a cramped meeting room.
But for Peter Ho, founding member of the Forum for Climate Change Adaptation (FCCA), the initiative had the potential for something much greater.
“Initially, FCCA’s goals were unclear,” Peter recalls. “We simply gathered to share experiences – what worked, what didn’t, and how things were done. It was about showing vulnerability and encouraging collaboration.”
Yet as the discussions continued, a clearer vision began to emerge. Peter and the FCCA members realized there were countless projects and research efforts eager to share their work and tackle the growing challenges of climate changes and coastal vulnerability.
“Watching FCCA become a recognized forum for coastal protection, flood mitigation, and climate resilience has been incredibly rewarding,” says Peter. “This growth showed the value of shared knowledge and collaboration.”
Over the past five years, FCCA has hosted 16 forums, with the 17th scheduled for this November, showcasing the latest adaptive infrastructure projects, research breakthroughs, and best practices from its diverse network.
“One key achievement has been bringing together government agencies, universities, and industry players to foster research and develop adaptive infrastructure,” says Peter. “Our quarterly forum has become a vital platform for sharing knowledge, highlighting success stories, and building a strong community.”
The forum took another major step forward recently through FCCA’s partnership with the Coastal Protection Chapter of the Singapore Water Association (SWA). While their roles were distinct, the 2 groups quickly recognized the benefits of a unified approach.
“FCCA provides a platform for marine and coastal professionals to share knowledge and network, while SWA’s Coastal Protection Chapter serves as an intermediary between stakeholders, enhancing industry capacity, and promoting Singapore’s coastal protection globally,” explains Peter. “Together, we leverage each other’s strengths to enhance projects, promote innovation, and engage a wider network.”
Looking ahead, Peter’s vision is for FCCA to continue driving innovative and scalable coastal resilience solutions, in close partnership with SWA’s Coastal Protection Chapter.
“Together, we aim to create a coastal resilience industry model that can be adapted across various regions,” he says. “By engaging professionals and organizations to share insights, propose solutions, and strengthen this community, we can make meaningful progress in the fight against climate change.”
For Peter and the FCCA team, the journey has been one of overcoming initial uncertainty to unleashing the power of collaboration.
And they’re just getting started.
coastalprotection partnerships