Comparing the cost effectiveness of nature-based and coastal adaptation: A case study from the Gulf Coast of the United States.

ABSTRACT: Coastal risks are increasing from both development and climate change. Interest is growing in the protective role that coastal nature-based measures (or green infrastructure), such as reefs and wetlands, can play in adapting to these risks. However, a lack of quantitative information on their relative costs and benefits is one principal factor limiting their use more broadly. Here, we apply a quantitative risk assessment framework to assess coastal flood risk (from climate change and economic exposure growth) across the United States Gulf of Mexico coast to compare the cost effectiveness of different adaptation measures. These include nature-based (e.g. oyster reef restoration), structural or grey (e.g., seawalls) and policy measures (e.g. home elevation). We first find that coastal develo

SUBMITTER: Reguero BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5894966 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature