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The sea is rising… but not onto the policy agenda: A multiple streams approach to understanding sea level rise policies

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Listed:
  • Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf
  • Katharine Neill
  • Burton St John III
  • Ivan K Ash
  • Kaitrin Mahar

Abstract

There has been little policy effort to address sea level rise in coastal states in the US. It is important to examine, at the state level, how the multitude of different (and changing) actors with different preferences and perspectives contribute to such inertia. This study examines state-level legislative inaction with regards to sea level rise. Using Kingdon's multiple streams framework, we draw a picture of the policy landscape in Virginia as one where the problem of sea level rise is perceived as a low priority, with little consensus on achievable policy solutions, and is politically controversial. We find that policy inertia in Virginia is a result of (1) fractious viewpoints regarding sea level rise as a problem, (2) a lack of clear consensus on policy solutions, and (3) conflicting perspectives of the role of the state.

Suggested Citation

  • Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf & Katharine Neill & Burton St John III & Ivan K Ash & Kaitrin Mahar, 2016. "The sea is rising… but not onto the policy agenda: A multiple streams approach to understanding sea level rise policies," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(2), pages 228-243, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:34:y:2016:i:2:p:228-243
    DOI: 10.1177/0263774X15614457
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf & Burton St. John & Ivan Ash, 2014. "The role of politics and proximity in sea level rise policy salience: a study of Virginia legislators’ perceptions," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 4(3), pages 208-217, September.
    2. Sammy Zahran & Samuel D Brody & Arnold Vedlitz & Himanshu Grover & Caitlyn Miller, 2008. "Vulnerability and Capacity: Explaining Local Commitment to Climate-Change Policy," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 26(3), pages 544-562, June.
    3. Robert J. Nicholls & Abiy S. Kebede, 2012. "Indirect impacts of coastal climate change and sea-level rise: the UK example," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(sup01), pages 28-52, September.
    4. Susanne Moser & Roger Kasperson & Gary Yohe & Julian Agyeman, 2008. "Adaptation to climate change in the Northeast United States: opportunities, processes, constraints," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 643-659, June.
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