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Planning for Sustainable Coastlines in the United States in an Era of Climate Change: An Examination of Major Policy Barriers

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Sustainability in Natural Resources Management and Land Planning

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Abstract

The United States is a coastal nation. More than two-thirds of its population live within coastal states. Many of these developed coastal areas are low-lying, subject to flooding and similar hazards related to sea level rise. Historical policies have incentivized coastal development and redevelopment. And today, as a direct result of sea level rise, ecologically important coastal attributes are being eroded. This paper examines historical and current policies associated with coastal development in the United States. Using a policy evolution analytical framework, specific policies are identified that have incentivized coastal development while simultaneously discounting existing and emerging coastal hazard risks. It then explores the kinds of policy evolutions required to better internalize emerging climate change risks to coastal areas while also supporting the ecological integrity of coastlines. Findings indicate key existing policies supporting coastal development aid in discounting the increasing risks to coastal areas, while also incentivizing the flow of capital for development purposes. The recommendations from this analysis can be generally applied to coastal areas under the dual considerations of development and coastal ecosystem integrity in an era of climate change.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA

    Chad J. McGuire & Michael Goodman

  2. Departments of Economics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA

    Devon Lynch

Authors
  1. Chad J. McGuire
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  2. Michael Goodman
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  3. Devon Lynch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chad J. McGuire .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. FTZ-ALS, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ulisses Miranda Azeiteiro

  3. Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Andréia Faraoni Freitas Setti

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McGuire, C.J., Goodman, M., Lynch, D. (2021). Planning for Sustainable Coastlines in the United States in an Era of Climate Change: An Examination of Major Policy Barriers. In: Leal Filho, W., Azeiteiro, U.M., Setti, A.F.F. (eds) Sustainability in Natural Resources Management and Land Planning. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76624-5_23

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