Using climax thinking to understand psychological drivers of attitudes towards two coastal climate adaptations around the hypertidal Bay of Fundy

Abstract Coastal climate adaptations are changes that tackle the challenges arising from sea level rise. Adaptations such as risk information and changes to public infrastructure have been met with some degree of public opposition. Climax thinking is an emerging framework for exploring this resistance. In this study, we used climax thinking to explore public responses to two specific coastal climate adaptation strategies: public flood risk mapping and managed dyke realignment. Using a survey administered to residents around the hypertidal Bay of Fundy, in Atlantic Canada, we found low knowledge of both. While most residents supported each, 30% expressed resistance to flood risk mapping based on real estate value concerns, and 20% expressed resistance to managed dyke realignment that might involve retreating homes or businesses. Using ordered logit models we tested the dimensions of this resistance (deploying Time Perception, Futures Consciousness, Basic Values, and Awareness of Consequences) as well as risk perceptions. Only future orientation was significant (reducing resistance) for both models, supporting its power for climate action. Other significant variables differed by the type of adaptation, showing the importance of asking about adaptation options separately, rather than climate action in general. For instance, a past focus associated with a sense of loss was shown to increase resistance for managed dyke realignment. The research suggests new areas of exploration for climax thinking, including the scale and circumstances in which it manifests (e.g., proximity, impact, novelty), and the value of exploring relational dimensions.