Adapting to Rising Sea Levels: Legal Challenges and Opportunities

Adapting to Rising Sea Levels discusses the ways in which the structure of the United States' legal system shapes adaptation. Written to be accessible to a broad audience, the book provides the necessary background on the science of sea level rise and the basic legal principles that animate decision-making in the coastal zone, including the takings doctrine. The book explores the role of federal flood insurance and disaster relief in shaping adaptation decisions, presents case studies from states, and concludes with a high-level overview of some of the unique challenges faced by corporations operating in the coastal zone.