Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Releases Working Paper by CBI Staff on Coastal States and Municipalities’ Climate Adaptation Initiatives

Coastal municipalities across the country face significant and uncertain threats from sea level rise, more frequent and intense storms and other consequences of climate change. They typically lack the resources and regulatory authority to tackle these challenges alone, so depend on state governments for support. Some states are starting to take this need seriously, but many are still grappling with where to find resources in these lean times, and with how to deploy them effectively.

Ona Ferguson and Todd Schenk interviewed local and state-level decision-makers and planners in various coastal states to better understand the adaptation activities taking place and challenges facing governments as they start to address the threats posed by climate change. They recommend that states provide more funding and material resources to local governments; provide downscaled climate data in easy-to-use formats; pursue consistent policies at the state level and remove inconsistencies; raise the profile of SLR adaptation; instigate and support coordination at the most appropriate level; and tailor responses to the context.

It is perhaps unsurprising that resource constraints are a major challenge at virtually all levels of government across the country. A less expected insight gleaned from the interviews is the critical importance of coordination and enabling policies from the state level. Interviewees in various municipalities expressed desire not for unfunded mandates from their respective state governments, but for guidelines, data and leadership from state agencies and political leaders so that they have both some cover and foundation for initiating adaptation activities. Read the complete working paper "Coastal States’ Climate Adaptation Initiatives: Sea Level Rise and Municipal Engagement" here.

Schenk and Ferguson also blogged recently on what we've learned about climate change adaptation through CBI's practice in this important area. Early experience suggests that effective coordination is generally a substantial challenge in adaptation planning. Responsibility for risks is often ill-defined, possible solutions require cooperation across traditional institutional boundaries and uncertainty makes the traditional linear model of problem scoping, solution identification, then solution implementation inappropriate. The consensus building approach championed by CBI offers an effective and efficient way to facilitate multi-stakeholder groups wrestling with emerging adaptation challenges.