Institutional Response to Global Climate Change: The Coastal Barrier Analog

本研究将考察三个主要力量在海岸屏障系统管理国家政策演变中的相互作用：1)海岸屏障物理环境的短期和长期变化；2)关于环境变化过程的实质性知识和专长；(3)实施替代性政策创新以应对环境变化。将对经历过环境变化的沿海国家进行案例研究，为机构对长期环境变化的反应的概念模型提供定性的经验验证。这项工作还将增进对促进环境政策创新的关键关系的理解。对全球环境变化的日益关注已将注意力集中在未来气候变化可能对自然环境和社会产生的有害影响上。本研究将为社会决策提供有价值的理论和数据，以帮助制定环境政策，规划和防止气候变化的不利影响。

This study will examine the interaction of three major forces in the evolution of state policies governing management of coastal barrier systems: 1) short-term and long-term changes to the physical environment of coastal barriers; 2) substantive knowledge and expertise about environmental change processes; and 3) the implementation of alternative policy innovations in response to environmental change. Case studies of coastal states that have experienced environmental changes will be conducted to provide qualitative empirical validation of a conceptual model of institutional response to chronic environmental change. The work will also improve understanding of key relationships that stimulate environmental policy innovation. Increasing concern about global environmental change has focused attention on the detrimental effects that future climate change might exert on natural environments and society. This research will provide valuable theory and data for aiding societal decision making regarding environmental policies to plan for and protect against adverse effects of climate change.