Department or Program

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines adaptation planning to sea-level rise (SLR) in the coastal communities of New Hampshire, analyzing how vulnerability is framed in state and regional foundational planning documents and how potential gaps in these frameworks could lead to maladaptive impacts. New Hampshire faces projected SLR of 1.0 to 3.8 feet by 2100, leading state and regional planning commissions to create vulnerability assessments to guide adaptation strategies. Through a systematic content analysis, this research quantifies biophysical versus socio-economic language using a Python algorithm. The findings suggest an imbalance between the prevalence of the two categories, with a 14:1 ratio, privileging biophysical considerations and leaving major socioeconomic gaps, such as the omission of equity and vulnerable sub-populations. Through accepted literature and frameworks, this research demonstrates how these gaps in framings of vulnerability could lead to maladaptation.

Level of Access

Restricted: Campus/Bates Community Only Access

First Advisor

Jamie Haverkamp

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Number of Pages

52

Components of Thesis

1 pdf file

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