ND-GAIN collaborates with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Georgia on a working paper that uses content analysis and coastal adaptation principles to evaluate the intersection of plans at the local and state levels to derive a coordination index. The index is then used to evaluate if greater coordination among plans is correlated with climate risk mitigation and enhancing community adaptation to climate change.

ABSTRACT 

Considering climate change-induced flood risks and potential impacts of sea level rise within the U.S. Great Lakes regions over the past 20 years, we explore the role of cross-scalar networks of plans in mitigating climate risk. Using content analysis and coastal adaptation principles, we evaluate the intersection of plans at the local and state levels to derive a coordination index which is then used to evaluate if greater coordination among plans is correlated with climate risk mitigation and enhancing community adaptation to climate change. Further, incorporating evaluation results of coordination between those plans and varied community resilience factors, we assess the role of coordinated planning in effectively reducing flood risk. Findings suggest that better coordinated planning and higher levels of community resilience result in mitigating disaster losses and enhancing climate adaptation.