A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Glasgow, the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (in Bonn, Germany) and the University of Costa Rica has been developing a trans-national comparative study across coastal areas in Costa Rica, Northern Germany, Scotland (UK), and Massachusetts (USA) to provide science-based guidance for post COVID recovery of coastal communities and shed light on green development and climate resilience strategies adopted at the local level.