Sea level rise adaptation in the public sector: challenges, solutions, and opportunities

The withe paper examines key challenges, solutions and opportunities encountered by practitioners working on the leading edge of sea level rise (SLR) adaptation efforts. Among the array of challenges and opportunities to coastal cities and towns in the United States and worldwide, it considers: funding mechanisms, multiple socio-economic and environmental goals, tidal and stormwater flooding, beach impacts, community engagement and education, organizational buy-in, standards and policy modification, stormwater management, collaboration, communication and maintaining flexibility.

While this collection is not meant to be comprehensive, ACCO hopes that sharing lessons learned from “early adaptors” will help those who are beginning their own adaptation planning efforts to avoid common pitfalls and better safeguard their communities, economies, and natural assets against the impacts of rising seas.