Chapter 22, Southeast

The Southeast's growing population faces increasing threats from climate change, with impacts on human health, ecosystems, economies, infrastructure, and food systems. While there have been notable advancements in adaptation throughout the region, these efforts tend to be concentrated in wealthier coastal and metropolitan areas, leaving rural and other under-resourced communities at risk. Coordinated climate strategies could improve equity, well-being, and economic vitality.

- From NCA5 ch. 22

This page is in draft form and is currently being reviewed by project partners. For more information about the creation and review process, please see the landing page for the NCA5 Educator's Guide.

Jump to:

  1. Information on using this guide
  2. Educational resources and guiding questions for this region
  3. CLEAN curated pathways to action for the region
  4. NCA5 non-regional chapter connections

Key Messages for the Southeast:

National Climate Assessment Art X Climate selections

Artist's statement: Over the past decade, I have documented the first "managed retreat" from climate change and sea level rise in New York City, photographing and filming as three neighborhoods have been demolished and returned to nature. This body of work explores the sacrifices that are being made, as communities face the reality of increased flooding, erosion, and storm surges caused by climate change and sea level rise.


Artist's statement: Battling climate change will require a radically imaginative perspective on the world around us. What would it look like to create fully biophilic additions to buildings that already exist? How many jobs could be created through the planning and upkeep of a green city? How would gardens on every balcony and rooftop benefit people in food deserts? I used photos of common house plants tucked into an image of 30th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City for a fantastical view of a concrete jungle.


Educational resources and guiding questions aligned with the regional Key Messages:

Each Key Message features three guiding questions to help educators navigate these topics with students. Each guiding question includes example lessons and supporting videos. The lessons were taken from the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) educational resources database. The videos were selected from reputable sources to support the lessons.

Key Message One: Regional Growth Increases Climate Risks

The Southeast's population has grown and is expected to continue growing, mostly in metropolitan areas and along its coastline, putting more communities and their assets into harm's way from increasing risks related to climate and land-use changes. Conversely, many rural places are facing declining populations with a growing percentage of older residents, making these areas particularly vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate. Find out more about this key message here.

Guiding question one: How does climate change impact under-resourced communities in the Southeast? Why might climate change be particularly harmful to indigenous communities in this region?

Guiding question two: What are the limitations that infrastructure today faces due to climate change? How should infrastructure be improved and developed to consider the increased risk for flooding in low-lying areas?

Guiding question three: Which areas in the SE are experiencing the greatest population growth and what does that mean for the region as a whole in the context of hazards?

Key Message Two: Climate Change Worsens Human Health and Widens Health Inequities

Human health and climate stressors are intimately linked in the Southeast. Community characteristics such as racial and ethnic population, chronic disease prevalence, age, and socioeconomic status can influence how climate change exacerbates, ameliorates, or introduces new health issues. Find out more about this key messagehere.

Guiding question one: Who is most at risk of the health and infrastructure impacts of climate change in the region and why?

Guiding question two: How is access to and reliance upon air conditioning causing further economic and social disparities in the Southeast?

Guiding question three: What are the sources and impacts of air pollution in your community?

Key Message Three: Climate Change Disproportionately Damages Southeastern Jobs, Households, and Economic Security

Over the last few decades, economic growth in the Southeast has been concentrated in and around urban centers that depend on climate-sensitive infrastructure and regional connections to thrive. Simultaneously, rural and place-based economies that rely on the region's ecosystems are particularly at risk from current and future climate changes. Find out more about this key message here

Guiding question one: How does climate change impact supply chains and what are some adaptations that Southeast communities can take to mitigate the impacts?

Guiding question two: How do climate change-induced risks to transportation infrastructure in the Southeast lead to broader economic repercussions across the United States?

Guiding question three: In what ways does climate change pose a threat to localized economies such as farming, ecotourism, and fishing? What obstacles could economies dependent on ecological systems encounter?

Key Message Four: Agriculture Faces Growing Threats, but Innovations Offer Help

Changes in temperature, drought, extreme rainfall, and sea levels are already threatening the Southeast's agriculture and other food-related systems. Moreover, these climate-related hazards are expected to worsen with every increment of global warming, disproportionately harm farmers and small-scale operations, and increase the competition between urban and rural communities for valuable resources such as water and land. Find out more about this key message here.

Guiding question one: What are the challenges and trade-offs associated with balancing water, land, and resource allocation between municipal and agricultural needs?

Guiding question two: How should land management practices be adjusted to take into consideration the increased risk of invasive species, drought, and extreme weather events?

Guiding question three: Why are small-scale, Black, Indigenous, and economically disadvantaged farmers experiencing disproportionate impacts from climate change and what can be done to provide more support?

Pathways to action for the Southeast*

*These selections were curated by CLEAN

The following actions and case studies highlight ideas for climate change adaptation and mitigation at multiple scales and are meant to support and inspire students and educators to take steps that address the challenges outlined in this chapter.

Action 1: Improve Cooling Infrastructure and Energy Efficiency

Action 2: Reduce Agriculture Impacts

Action 3: Improve Water Distribution

Action 4: Flood preparedness

Looking for more ideas for climate change actions? Explore the National Climate Assessment chapters on adaptation (chapter 31) and mitigation (chapter 32). 

National Climate Assessment Southeast Chapter Connections:

The national climate assessment includes multiple chapters on climate change-specific topics. The chapters and key messages offer ways to further engage with the NCA and find out more information related to the region.