Climate change is slowly becoming one of the most commonly discussed modern issues in the world. In a survey spanning 19 countries, the majority of people considered climate change to be a major threat to their country. In the UK, for example, 75% of people considered climate change to be a major threat in 2022, in comparison to 48% in 2013 (Fagan et al., 2022). Among the major threats associated with climate change, Sea level rise (SLR) is one of the most well-known and threatening, bringing with it erosion, flooding, and property damage or loss. Especially at risk are coastal communities such as Plum Island, Massachusetts, a small town in Newbury located on a barrier island. Barrier islands are a deposit of sand that forms parallel to the coast, named for their role in protecting coastal communities and ecosystems from extreme weather (NOAA, 2021). They are particularly vulnerable to erosion, especially when caused by human activity, so their conservation should be considered a priority in order to preserve the property located on them, as well as the ecosystems they foster. This study uses Plum Island as its focus to explore the threat of sea level rise, erosion, and flooding, their impact on housing and property, and potential solutions. This study explores if Plum Island has seen an increase in flooding over the past 10 years, whether this has led to increased property damage and erosion, what solutions have been recommended or attempted, and how Plum Island’s current situation compares to the rest of the world’s experiences. This research report will provide valuable reference to those attempting to understand the potential consequences of climate change, the risks Plum Island faces, and potential courses of action that can be taken.

The state of infrastructure across the United States has received increasing scrutiny over the past decade. Bridges are of considerable concern because of their critical role in supporting our reliance on vehicular transportation for moving people and goods across short and long distances. As the nation’s stock of bridges ages, a systematic program for preservation and investment is needed. Periodic bridge inspections are conducted to identify and prioritize the rehabilitation of bridges in poor condition; these bridges are referred to as structurally deficient. “While structurally deficient bridges are not inherently unsafe, they require substantial investment in the form of replacement or significant rehabilitation, and they present higher risk for future closure or weight restrictions” (2021 Report Card for America's Infrastructure for bridges). The following report offers a deeper understanding of the state of bridges, with a focus on structurally deficient bridges, and their connection to the residents of Massachusetts. It presents an equity analysis to determine if certain populations of people reside closer to bridges with structural deficiency. We consider how minority, low-income, and English-isolated populations fare in comparison to the general population regarding proximity to five different categories of bridges—three structural conditions and two operational conditions.