The Cost of Sea Level Rise for the Island Community of Vinalhaven, Maine: Spurring Action Through Collaborative Data Analysis

• Published in: Community Quality-of-Life Indicators pp. 73 - 86
• Main Author: Grabill, Meghan
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 28.08.2022
• Series: Community Quality-of-Life and Well-Being
• Subjects: Climate change; Community engagement; Community Indicators; Economic impact; Island community; Sea level rise adaptation
• ISBN: 9783031069390; 3031069390
• ISSN: 2520-1093; 2520-1107
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-06940-6_5

In our Waypoints: Community Indicator series, the Island Institute, a community development organization, presents current data on the character along the coast and islands of Maine. Data show that climate change is already having detrimental effects on the island community of Vinalhaven, and the projections indicate it will only get worse. However, the topics of sea level rise and climate change are difficult to broach because of the complexity of the subject and the polarized views associated with it. An economic impact study, through collaboration with engaged community members, quantified the cost of sea level rise to the community if no action was taken. Through the work of data collaboration and the tenacity of the Sea Level Rise Committee, sentiment in Vinalhaven is slowly shifting and sea level rise is becoming an accepted fact. This book chapter will use the Vinalhaven example to explore the power of working with a community to forge ahead when a monumental problem seems insurmountable.