EXPLORING CLIMATE EQUITY IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES:PERCEPTIONS AND POLICY INTEGRATION IN THE EASTERN SHORE, VIRGINIA

Climate equity is a crucial yet underexamined dimension of climate adaptation, particularly within perception studies. This thesis investigates how climate equity is perceived and operationalized in the Eastern Shore of Virginia (ESVA)—a geographically isolated, low-lying coastal region facing significant environmental risks and systemic socio-economic marginalization. Using a qualitative, worldview-based analytical framework, the study combines semi-structured interviews with key local stakeholders and a critical review of local and county-level policy documents. It also integrates insights from real-world case studies to contextualize and inform the findings. The analysis shows both alignment and gaps between expert views and policy documents on climate equity in the Eastern Shore of Virginia. While both reflect Complex Systems Theory, only experts emphasized Process Ontology and the need for adaptive, power-aware approaches—absent in static policy strategies. Policies rely heavily on Scientific and Empirical Realism, prioritizing data-driven models that often exclude marginalized voices, highlighting the need for co-governance and community-led planning like that of the Karuk Tribe. The lack of Post-Structuralist Critical Realism in both perspectives suggests limited engagement with structural inequalities, calling for deeper, equity-centered policy reform. Drawing on successful models from Indigenous and frontline communities, the study advocates for iterative, participatory, and justice-centered approaches to climate policy. It emphasizes the need to deconstruct current regulatory paradigms and incorporate procedural and distributive justice into adaptation strategies. By realigning climate governance with community-informed worldviews, the study offers a pathway toward more resilient, inclusive, and equitable climate adaptation practices.