Social Science Research

Understanding the coast as a peopled place: A literature survey of place attachment in climate change adaptation

As the field of adaptation science grows, there are new and emerging paradigms to approach climate change planning. This paper includes a literature survey of articles and manuscripts that evaluate coastal climate change adaptation in the place attachment paradigm. Primary frames for place attachment in adaptation were social capital, cultural heritage, managed retreat and migration, and ecosystem services. Place attachment can be a motivator for environmental action but a barrier to change, especially managed retreat. Place attachment also provides an opportunity, for more equitable and just adaptation, if done intentionally. After discussion of the results, the author presents research, policy, and practice considerations to further the application of place attachment in adaptation.

Emergency Sheltering & Cooling Center Practices in Connecticut

During extreme weather events and power outages, emergency shelters and cooling centers perform critical functions to Connecticut residents and visitors as places of respite and recovery. Researchers with the Connecticut Department of Public Health and University of Connecticut Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation conducted a survey in fall of 2020 on temporary emergency shelters and cooling centers practices in Connecticut municipalities.  To access the white paper, click the button.

Transit-Oriented Development

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is an important tool for climate mitigation, as well as climate resilience. TODs are mixed-use, compact, walkable developments built in locations that are served by high quality transit systems. With dense concentrations of people and services, TODs provide towns with the potential to steer development away from areas that might be at risk for flooding or that are in similarly hazardous or environmentally sensitive areas. Furthermore, because of their compact size, TODs can lead to less runoff per capita and thus less flooding. TODs can also be used as an effective approach to accommodate more diversity in the types and price points of housing provided and to increase the stock of affordable housing.

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the potential for TODs as a key component for long term climate resilience along the New Haven – Greenwich corridor by doing an evaluation of the challenges and opportunities for the creation of TODs. The ability of towns and developers to fully leverage this valuable infrastructure that is provided by the state is vital to the long term economic, social and environmental resilience of the state of Connecticut; and will be key to the development of climate adaptation strategies in the Resilient Connecticut project area.