Coastal Flood Risk Governance in Newfoundland, Canada: A Multidimensional Analysis of Assessment, Management, and...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Coastal Management

Background:

• Newfoundland's coastal communities are highly vulnerable to escalating flood risks.
• Climate change, heavy precipitation, and coastal storms exacerbate these risks.
• Existing mitigation efforts are insufficient to address the growing threat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive analysis of coastal flood risk governance in Newfoundland.
• To identify challenges and opportunities in current risk governance strategies.
• To propose an integrated framework for enhanced flood risk management.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative review of secondary literature, including academic studies, government reports, and policy documents.
• Analysis structured around five components of risk governance: estimation, characterization, management, and communication.
• Examination of tools for hazard identification and vulnerability assessment.

Main Results:

• Newfoundland utilizes various tools for hazard identification but faces challenges in data resolution and public engagement.
• Effective risk management requires integrating structural and nonstructural measures with continuous monitoring.
• Robust risk communication involving experts and credible sources is crucial for public awareness and shared responsibility.

Conclusions:

• An integrated, adaptive, and collaborative governance framework is essential for mitigating flood risks.
• Prioritizing equity and community resilience offers a promising pathway for coastal populations.
• Further primary research is needed to empirically validate the proposed governance framework.