Evaluating the climate change adaptation barriers of critical infrastructure in rural Alaska

ABSTRACT

As climate change impacts intensify, communities in rural Alaska are undergoing and adapting to changes to infrastructure from increased permafrost thawing, flooding, and erosion. Climate change adaptation is needed to address structural failures and safety concerns. Despite recognizing the need for support from stakeholders and adaptation of infrastructure, the level of adaptation activity remains limited and inconsistent across regions and communities in rural Alaska. We address this need by identifying barriers to community-wide adaptation of infrastructure based on stakeholder perspectives who make adaptation decisions for government agencies, nonprofits, engineering firms, or academic institutions in rural Alaska. Barriers were identified qualitatively through interviews (N = 25) and validated quantitatively through surveys (N = 30). Qualitative and quantitative results identified and validated 17 barriers to adaptation of infrastructure – spanning sociocultural, institutional, economic, physical, and environmental dimensions based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF). Results demonstrate the need for national adaptation funding and policy that is specific to the diverse cultural landscapes, extreme weather, rural locations, limited transportation, and high costs in rural Alaska. Adaptation funding and policy is needed that supports the collaboration of Alaska-based institutions, such as nonprofit organizations and engineering firms, Tribal entities, and rural Alaska community representatives in adaptation.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change adaptation
• barriers
• infrastructure damage
• community-wide adaptation
• sustainable livelihoods framework

Acknowledgements

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This material is based in part on work supported by the National Science Foundation [# 928105].

Notes on contributors

Jessica E. Taylor

Jessica E. Taylor completed her PhD in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation of infrastructure in rural Indigenous communities.

Cristina Poleacovschi

Cristina Poleacovschi is an Assistant Professor in the Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on knowledge sharing in project-based organization, infrastructure inequities, and enhancing critical consciousness and social justice attitudes in engineering education.

Michael Perez

Michael Perez is an Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Auburn University. His research focuses on producing innovative and practical solutions for stormwater management through the Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility.