Barriers and enablers to climate and health adaptation planning in rural, coastal counties in Michigan

"Authorities have declared that the implementation of adaptation strategies is necessary to protect current and future generations from the public health impacts of climate change (IPCC, 2018; US EPA, 2018; USGCRP, 2018). Yet not all communities have begun to plan for climate change, nor implement adaptation (Rosina Bierbaum et al., 2013a). Current adaptation literature focuses heavily on urban areas, developing countries, and agricultural practices. Nonagricultural-dependent rural areas, accounting for over 80% of the nonmetro counties in the United States (USDA ERS, 2015), are largely unexplored. Through a qualitative, exploratory, mixed-methods approach, surveys and interviews are used in this study to examine the barriers and enablers to climate and health adaptation in nonagricultural-based rural, coastal Marquette County in Michigan. Relatively advanced in climate adaptation planning, the study area represents a rural county actively addressing climate and health concerns. The findings support other researchers while identifying barriers and enablers unique to nonagricultural-based rural, coastal areas. This study broadens the current understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced in approaching adaptation, in hopes of ultimately better preparing communities for the negative health impacts of climate change."--Page ii.