Current scientific research shows that the global sea level is expected to rise significantly
over the next century. The relatively dense development and abundant economic activity along
much of the U.S. coastline is vulnerable to risk of coastal flooding, shoreline erosion and storm
damages.
In this study we examine the impacts of climate change on North Carolina coastal
resources. We consider three important areas of the coastal economy: the impacts of sea-level
rise on the coastal real estate market, the impacts of sea-level rise on coastal recreation and
tourism and the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes on business activity. Our baseline year
is 2004. All the impacts in this study are measured in 2004 U.S. dollars
