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The role of politics and proximity in sea level rise policy salience: a study of Virginia legislators’ perceptions

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  • Juita-Elena (Wie) Yusuf

  • Burton St. John

  • Ivan Ash

Abstract

The acceleration of sea level rise (SLR) has become a threat to the stability of nation-states worldwide and associated with risks to environmental sustainability, economic infrastructure, and public health. However, from both an international and U.S. perspective, there is a lack of research examining legislative decision makers’ perceptions about policies regarding SLR. This study addresses that gap by examining how politics and proximity affects Virginia state legislators’ perceptions of the saliency of SLR. A survey of these legislators reveals their perceptions of credible sources of information, SLR-related risk, and who should take the lead to address SLR. While this study confirms other research about the effects of political party, it finds that proximity to coastal areas also greatly influences the perceived saliency of SLR. The findings from this research project enhance our understanding of the challenges inherent in addressing SLR at the state level. Finally, this study points to implications for agenda setting and suggests areas of further study regarding SLR policy at the state and local government levels. Copyright AESS 2014

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:4:y:2014:i:3:p:208-217
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-014-0169-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Abinash Bhattachan & Matthew D. Jurjonas & Priscilla R. Morris & Paul J. Taillie & Lindsey S. Smart & Ryan E. Emanuel & Erin L. Seekamp, 2019. "Linking residential saltwater intrusion risk perceptions to physical exposure of climate change impacts in rural coastal communities of North Carolina," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 97(3), pages 1277-1295, July.
    2. Wanyun Shao & Hamed Moftakhari & Hamid Moradkhani, 2020. "Comparing public perceptions of sea level rise with scientific projections across five states of the U.S. Gulf Coast region," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 317-335, November.
    3. Juita -Elena (Wie) Yusuf & Burton St. John, 2017. "Stuck on options and implementation in Hampton Roads, Virginia: an integrated conceptual framework for linking adaptation capacity, readiness, and barriers," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 450-460, September.
    4. 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.

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