Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Environmental justice (EJ) research has traditionally focused on hazard waste and pollutions and its effects on vulnerable populations. However, the biophysical changes to the earth due to climate change yields affects felt by many coastal communities around the world. Without appropriate planning, many communities will endure impacts which are expected to increase in severity and intensity. This research focuses on populations that have been living in the economic and social margins of society. This study draws from data from Portsmouth, Virginia, a coastal community positioned near the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This city is situated in the second most vulnerable region to sea level rise (SLR) and flooding in the United States, the Hampton Roads area. The central research question of this study is, “What are the risk perceptions and experiences of flooding?” Using an environmental justice framework, OLS and logistic regression were employed to analyze the survey data of Portsmouth residents (n= 1,873). Preliminary findings, through descriptive statistics, support that EJ communities differ in perceptions and experiences of flooding. This study will be used to provide implications for policy makers on a local level to address climate change. Due to the projected increases in SLR, adaptation and mitigation efforts must be created to ensure fair and equitable approaches are created for all communities. This research contributes to a growing literature on climate change and environmental justice.