Examining Local Policy Responses to Changing Hazards in Coastal North Carolina

Abstract

As climate change increasingly threatens global coastlines, it is key to understand how policymakers are responding on a community scale. Existing research, however, has failed to systematically describe local policy responses to changing hazards. Focusing on three representative North Carolina counties— Carteret, Dare, and New Hanover—our Master’s Project seeks to address this gap in the literature. We have compiled a comprehensive index of coastline adaptation, land use planning/zoning, and septic system management policies for the towns and counties of the study area. Our project demonstrates that policy responses vary widely, with some localities doing far more than others to prepare for climate-induced coastal change. We also perform a brief case study of a particular town, Nags Head, that stands out as best positioned to adapt to such shifts, and speculate on how other “laggard” towns may emulate the strategies deployed by Nags Head and policy “leader” communities.