Scenario (--)No Policy Change

• Risk of key issues unaddressed

• Pressure on municipalities for short-term mitigation solutions

• Opportunity for leadership or partnership of other stakeholders

Scenario (+-)Municipal By-Law Model

• Patchwork solution requiring partnership of municipalities

• Potential to address key issues, but inconsistently

• Lack of resources, data and knowledge in some municipalities

Scenario (++)Coastal Protection Act

• Comprehensive policy offering consistent regulation on key issues

• Could provide setbacks limits, beach access, buffer zone, etc.

• Challenge of gaps and enforcement

ReferencesArmitage, D., Charles, A. & Berkes, F. (2017). Governing the Coastal Commons: Communities, Resilience and Transformation. Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?id=LkUlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA214&lpg=PA214&dq=Coastal+2000+nova+scotia&source=bl&ots=T88SUWyMgS&sig=7ygrbizhju-wjk3PwyITiwMNZG4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwinmreEhI3XAhWKzIMKHcYQDdMQ6AEIQTAF#v=onepage&q=Coastal%202000%20nova%20scotia&f=falseEast Coast Environmental Law (ECELaw). (2010). Who Owns the Coast? Environmental Law Summery Series, IV. Retrieved from https://ecologyaction.ca/sites/ecologyaction.ca/files/images-documents/5%20EnviroLaw_SS_2010.pdf Ecology Action Centre. (N.d.). Coastal Protection Act. Retrived from https://ecologyaction.ca/issue-area/coastal-protection-actVasseur, L. & Catto, N.R. (2008). Atlantic Canada. In From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate (Chapter 4). Retrieved from https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/earthsciences/pdf/assess/2007/pdf/full-complet_e.pdfJurgajtis, G. (n.d.). Coast (image). On Unsplash. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/search/photos/coast

Policy AnalysisAnalysis of 22 provincial policies relating to the coast to identify connections to sustainability and key coastal issues and establish the baseline for current protection.3 policies were of particular interest:

• Environment Act• Municipal Government Act• Health Promotions Act

Stakeholder InterviewsInterviews conducted with 7 key stakeholders for their perspectives on coastal issues and management in Nova Scotia. Interviewees included representatives from:

• Province of Nova Scotia• Halifax Regional Municipality• Coastal Landscape Industry• Environmental Non-Profits• Aboriginal Law

Caitlin Grady BSc. Combined Honours in Environment, Sustainability & Society and Biology

Supervisor Dr. Georgia Klein, College of Sustainability

Coastal Protection Act:A Future Scenario Analysis of Coastal Policy in Nova Scotia

Purpose of StudyNova Scotia has the longest provincial coastline in Canada yet no comprehensive coastal policy. With the urgent threat of climate change, the provincial government is developing the Coastal Protection Act (CPA). This thesis considers the sustainability of coastal areas with or without the implementation of the CPA to better understand the implications of current and future coastal policy decisions.

BackgroundWith a complicated jurisdictional landscape and competing stakeholder interests (ECELaw, 2010), Nova Scotia has a history of failed coastal policies (Armitage et al., 2017). Key coastal issues that currently require addressing include:

• Regulating coastal development;• Protecting coastal ecosystems;• Managing coastal hazards such as sea-

level rise and storm surges (Vasseur & Catto, 2008).

How could the implementation and application of a provincial Coastal Protection

Act influence the future sustainability of coastal areas in Nova Scotia?

Scenario (-+)Amendments

• Climate change as public health hazard in Health Promotions Act

• Explicit mention of “coastal areas” in Environment Act

• Long process with incomplete results

DESIRABILITYFE

ASIBILITY

Results• CPA: best scenario providing long-term

coastal adaptation strategies.• Municipal By-Law Model: superior

middle scenario building on municipal planning powers to offer new, but uneven, coastal protection measures.

• Amendments: inferiormiddle scenario strengthening existing laws, but leaving gaps on issues of coastal development and climate change.

• No Policy Change: worst scenario leaving communities and ecosystems vulnerable to coastal hazards.

Low-Hanging Fruit Actions to be taken in every scenario:

• Education of public on coastal issues based on traditional and community knowledge

• Consultation of Mi’kmaw and coastal communities on needs and solutions

• Collaboration among stakeholders whether government involved or not