Virginia has the highest rate of sea-level rise on the East Coast, and Hampton Roads ranks 10th in the world in value of assets exposed to increased flooding from sea level rise. These assets include ports, railways, utilities, roads, military installations, and other critical infrastructure. To address the climate adaptation challenge in this diverse and densely populated set of communities, the Hampton Roads Adaptation Forum will provide a suite of resources and opportunities for local engineers, planners, facility managers and others to build the capacity for effective adaptation responses. A partnership between Old Dominion University, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Virginia Sea Grant, the Adaptation Forum is designed to enhance information sharing by bringing together members from Hampton Roads municipalities and state and federal agencies for quarterly meetings. In addition, the Adaptation Forum will create a comprehensive system to manage and communicate knowledge about climate adaptation throughout the region, and will host public town hall meetings and track communities adaptation efforts in order to help policy-makers learn about and implement effective strategies for climate adaptation.
