Coastal climate change and aging communities in Atlantic Canada: A methodological overview of community asset and social vulnerability mapping

Coastal climate change is challenging communities to adapt. More frequent and extreme weather events leading to coastal area flooding and other hazards can present a risk for residents and the infrastructure and services they rely on. This is particularly the case for vulnerable populations such as seniors. Nova Scotia is experiencing this confluence of factors; it has rural and remote coastal communities and the oldest population of any province in Canada. Our spatial study examines these dynamics in five rural and small town municipalities in Lunenburg and Annapolis counties. We combine population model projections and coastal sea rise scenarios to the year 2025-2026 with community asset, infrastructure, and residential property mapping and a review of municipal policies. We forward a framework for understanding coastal climate change impacts on key infrastructure, services, and assets that are relied upon by an older population as well as the current and potential municipal planning responses. We find that critical assets important to older populations are impacted by coastal climate change in our study areas and time frame. This article shares our research methods and findings with the aim of helping communities map change and plan for the future.