Global Environmental Change in Coastal North Carolina: Public Opinion and Impact Mitigation
Abstract
Abstract
As research progresses the observed or anticipated impacts of global warming become
more pronounced and the projections more precise. Impacts along coastlines include
sea level rise (SLR) and increasing proportion of strong tropical storms, which in
turn amplifies significant wave height. When combined with an increase in coastal
stressors climate change can have deleterious impacts on coastal areas; exacerbating
erosion, land loss, destruction of property and loss of life. Physical characteristics
in the Tidewater region of North Carolina make it vulnerable to climate change, especially
when combined with human population increases. To assess the awareness of likely
effects of SLR, storms, waves, development, erosion and land loss in North Carolina
the following study was completed from November 2005 through May 2007.
The study used two methods of investigation. The first used surveys to determine
the state of knowledge concerning global change impacts on the coast and assess the
publics’ willingness to accept impact reduction mechanisms. The second approach used
case studies of two North Carolina counties, Carteret and Dare County, to determine
how and if prevalent local environmental issues are affected by global change.
Survey results indicate that North Carolinians are largely convinced that global warming
is a) happening and b) exacerbated by human activities. There is more knowledge of
widespread impacts of climate change than those experienced locally, although coastal
residents displayed more knowledge than piedmont residents. Responses suggest North
Carolinians believe global warming is exacerbating coastal stressors and is a serious
problem. Despite this, there is little faith in the local governments’ ability to
manage for potential impacts. Case study results showed that the majority of local
issues involved land use/access and were further stressed by climate change impacts.
Various current mitigation efforts are available to manage the potential impacts of
global climate change, although few of them are incorporated into policy and planning.
There are many management tools available for coastal managers and planners, but until
policy mandates protective measures on the coast there will be little effective mitigation.
To mitigate the increasing impacts of global climate change research must influence
proactive policies.
Type
Master's projectPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/401Citation
DeMarco, Kristin (2007). Global Environmental Change in Coastal North Carolina: Public Opinion and Impact Mitigation.
Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/401.Collections
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