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Meet Vanessa Völz: Exploring cost-benefit strategies for coastal adaptation.

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Coastal adaptation is a crucial step in mitigating the impacts of rising sea levels, but how can we determine the most effective and economically sound solutions? Vanessa Völz, a Doctoral Researcher at the Global Climate Forum (GCF), is tackling this challenge head-on as part of the CoCliCo project. Her work focuses on conducting cost-benefit analyses to evaluate optimal adaptation strategies for over 41,000 coastal floodplains in Europe.

From mathematics to coastal adaptation

With a background in mathematics and economics, Vanessa has been working on European and German research projects since 2020. Her academic journey led her to a PhD where she applies quantitative methods to real-world climate challenges. Vanessa’s passion for coastal environments was sparked during her time living along the shores of California and Iceland, inspiring her to combine her analytical expertise with climate adaptation research.

Optimizing adaptation strategies

Vanessa’s research aims to determine where and when different adaptation options, such as protective infrastructure (e.g., dikes), strategic retreat (e.g., relocating away from the coastline), or accommodation measures (e.g., flood-proofing buildings), are economically most preferable. By identifying optimal responses for each coastal floodplain, her work contributes to informed decision-making in climate policy and urban planning.

Collaboration in the CoCliCo project

One of the most exciting aspects of Vanessa’s role in CoCliCo is working alongside researchers from across Europe to develop a comprehensive climate service for coastal regions. The project’s collaborative nature fosters interdisciplinary approaches to tackling sea level rise and coastal risks, ensuring that research translates into actionable insights.

Driving impact

By highlighting the economic advantages of proactive adaptation, Vanessa hopes her research will encourage policymakers and stakeholders to take timely action against coastal flooding. Her findings can provide the necessary justification for implementing protective measures, ultimately contributing to resilient coastal communities.

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Beyond research: Vanessa’s passions

Outside of her work, Vanessa enjoys dancing, horseback riding, swimming, and painting with watercolors. Her diverse interests reflect her appreciation for both analytical challenges and creative expression.

Connect with Vanessa

Interested in learning more about Vanessa’s work? Follow her on LinkedIn and explore her research in recent publications, including her latest study: Economic Optimization of Coastal Adaptation Strategies.

Meet Ulysse Pasquier: Exploring coastal flooding risks & adaptation strategies.

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Rising sea levels and increasing flood risks are some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For Dr. Ulysse Pasquier, tackling these challenges is both a professional mission and a deeply personal one. As a Senior Research Associate at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, Ulysse brings a wealth of experience in physical geography and environmental sciences to the CoCliCo project, where he investigates coastal risks and adaptation solutions.

A journey through climate science

Originally from France, Ulysse’s academic path has taken him across the globe. He studied in Canada and China before earning his PhD in the UK at the University of East Anglia, where he focused on modeling future compound flooding in coastal regions. His expertise led him to a postdoctoral position at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, where he spent three years researching urban hydrology. Now back at UEA, Ulysse is contributing to CoCliCo, bringing his interdisciplinary perspective to European-wide coastal adaptation research.

Understanding and adapting to coastal hazards

Ulysse’s research is driven by the need to help human systems prepare for climate change impacts, particularly in vulnerable coastal and urban environments. His work spans multiple disciplines—combining flood modeling, adaptation policy, and stakeholder engagement to bridge the gap between science and decision-making.

“Sea levels will continue to rise even if global emissions were to completely stop, so some form of adaptation will be required” he explains. “I hope my work can help decision-makers take timely, well-informed actions on how we manage our use of the coast.”

A personal connection to the coast

For Ulysse, coastal research is more than just an academic pursuit, it’s personal. “Half of my family comes from a small coastal town in the South of France, which has a history of dealing with flooding and a retreating coastline,” he shares. “That likely contributed to my career in this field, but beyond that, I am fascinated by finding solutions to make societies more resilient to change.”

This passion fuels his work in CoCliCo, where he collaborates with experts from across Europe to develop open-access tools that enhance understanding and preparedness for coastal hazards. “While sea level rise is a global issue, its impacts will vary widely by region,” he notes. “CoCliCo’s international perspective allows us to explore different adaptation approaches and share valuable insights.”

Beyond research:

Outside of his research, Ulysse enjoys long-distance running and football. He also occasionally blogs about societal issues and cinema, combining his analytical mindset with a broader cultural perspective.

Interested in learning more about Ulysse’s research? Explore his publications and insights on coastal adaptation strategies:

Follow Ulysse’s work here.