Federal Leadership for Relocation of Coastal Communities

November 2023
Citation:
53
ELR 10791A
Issue
11
Author
Jeff Peterson, Micah McMillan, A.R. Siders, Linda Shi, and Gary Griggs

More severe storm surges and rising sea levels along the coast of the United States pose a threat to coastal communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. The Biden Administration has proposed to develop a framework to support communities that express interest in relocating their homes and businesses to higher, safer ground. On July 26, 2023, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts from academia, nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies that explored principles and policies the federal government may adopt as it develops a national framework for  relocating coastal communities. This Dialogue presents a transcript of that discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.

Jeff Peterson (moderator) is a Visiting Scholar at the Environmental Law Institute and Co-Facilitator of the Coastal Flood Resilience Project. Micah McMillan is a Senior Analyst in Natural Resources and Environment with the U.S. Government Accountability Office. A.R. Siders is an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Geography at the University of Delaware. Linda Shi is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University’s Department of City and Regional Planning. Gary Griggs is Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz.

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