Empowering communities to tackle sea-level rise in areas like Demak requires a multifaceted approach involving local leaders and stakeholders in decision-making processes. Understanding migration decisions and implementing targeted disaster mitigation strategies are crucial for enhancing coastal communities’ resilience (Ghani, 2024).

Planned relocation has emerged as a transformative strategy to reduce vulnerability and improve livelihood outcomes for at-risk communities (Bower, 2024). This approach can be a game-changer in disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and development (Nalau & Handmer, 2018). Local leaders play a pivotal role in empowering communities to make decisions about relocation as an adaptation strategy (Maldonado, 2014). Communities must be at the forefront of these decisions. By involving local leaders, communities can better assess the risks and benefits of relocation and make informed choices about their future. Residents’ and stakeholders’ involvement is key to the adaptation process, enhancing resilience to sea-level rise, fostering education about risks, and enabling social learning for informed decision-making (Considine et al., 2017).

This study explores how local leaders and community empowerment can mitigate the effects of rising sea levels in Demak, Indonesia. It examines strategies for building local resilience to climate change and minimizing disaster risks, focusing on relocating at-risk communities.

This poster was presented during the 10th APN Early Career Professional Poster and Networking Session, held alongside the APN 26th Joint Intergovernmental and Scientific Planning Group Meetings on 13 June 2024 at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Jakarta, Indonesia.