Climate Change

Many scientists consider climate change to be the preeminent environmental issue of our time. Virginia faces multiple challenges from climate change that impact physical, ecological, economical, and cultural aspects of the entire state, especially coastal communities. Climate change effects in Virginia will likely include more extreme weather events (e.g., more droughts, more intense rainfall, and more intense storms and flooding), sea-level rise, and warmer temperatures. These changes are likely to magnify many of the coastal hazards we already face, and this is another good reason to be prepared with strategies and actions to increase the resilience of our homes and communities. This section provides an overview of climate change and regional climate trends and describes how these changes may exacerbate impacts of natural hazards.