---
chapter:
  doi: 10.7930/J01Z429C
  identifier: rural
  number: 14
  report_identifier: nca3
  sort_key: 140
  title: Rural Communities
  url: http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/rural-communities
chapter_identifier: rural
cited_by: []
confidence: "Given the evidence and uncertainties, there is high confidence that the obstacle of physical isolation will hamper some communities’ ability to adapt or have an adequate response during extreme events.\r\nGiven the evidence and uncertainties, there is high confidence that the obstacle of limited economic diversity will hinder rural communities’ ability to adapt. \r\nGiven the evidence and uncertainties, there is high confidence that the obstacle of higher poverty rates will significantly increase vulnerability of many communities from adapting properly.\r\nGiven the evidence and uncertainties, there is high confidence that the obstacle of an aging population will hinder some rural communities and prevent them from having an adequate response. \r\nGiven the evidence and uncertainties, there is high confidence that fundamental systems in rural communities are already stressed by remoteness and limited access.\r\n"
contributors: []
evidence: "The key message and supporting text summarizes extensive evidence documented in the Rural Communities Workshop Report.<tbib>e49f5471-72a0-4922-ade9-d1f5bafcf68b</tbib> Thirty one technical input reports on a wide range of topics that were also received and reviewed as part of the Federal Register Notice solicitation for public input. \r\nWith studies showing that rural communities are already stressed,<tbib>f340f9c2-ebe0-4783-9c6f-f78ba6a0bcca</tbib><sup>,</sup><tbib>deee9dba-814d-4e83-bc8e-d1f1a8019e9f</tbib><sup>,</sup><tbib>4a47ca0e-2c75-4666-9fea-ccde71dcf99f</tbib> a number of publications have explored the barriers of rural communities to preparing and responding to climate change.<tbib>75a38932-a8a4-4eeb-b94c-bbb65b580efe</tbib><sup>,</sup><tbib>8dff508b-aa3e-4c34-8a85-d977b7fd5230</tbib> Some studies provide in-depth looks at the obstacles created by limited economic diversity<tbib>fee3896e-2ffd-4c5c-8032-2aa01e717187</tbib><sup>,</sup><tbib>2221404a-2fab-4927-8df7-e07cf20ba323</tbib><sup>,</sup><tbib>f6f6574e-3be9-4ad5-a256-4aab31197491</tbib> and an aging population.<tbib>af1f278e-c516-4e95-83b0-27c32828b80c</tbib>"
files: []
gcmd_keywords: []
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca3/chapter/rural/finding/increased-rural-climate-change-risks.yaml
identifier: increased-rural-climate-change-risks
ordinal: 2
parents: []
process: 'The key messages were initially developed at a meeting of the authors in Charleston, South Carolina, in February, 2012. This initial discussion was supported by a series of conference calls from March through June, 2012. These ensuing discussions were held after a thorough review of the technical inputs and associated literature, including the Rural Communities Workshop Report prepared for the NCA<tbib>e49f5471-72a0-4922-ade9-d1f5bafcf68b</tbib> and additional technical inputs on a variety of topics.'
references:
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/2221404a-2fab-4927-8df7-e07cf20ba323.yaml
    uri: /reference/2221404a-2fab-4927-8df7-e07cf20ba323
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/4a47ca0e-2c75-4666-9fea-ccde71dcf99f.yaml
    uri: /reference/4a47ca0e-2c75-4666-9fea-ccde71dcf99f
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/75a38932-a8a4-4eeb-b94c-bbb65b580efe.yaml
    uri: /reference/75a38932-a8a4-4eeb-b94c-bbb65b580efe
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/8dff508b-aa3e-4c34-8a85-d977b7fd5230.yaml
    uri: /reference/8dff508b-aa3e-4c34-8a85-d977b7fd5230
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/af1f278e-c516-4e95-83b0-27c32828b80c.yaml
    uri: /reference/af1f278e-c516-4e95-83b0-27c32828b80c
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/deee9dba-814d-4e83-bc8e-d1f1a8019e9f.yaml
    uri: /reference/deee9dba-814d-4e83-bc8e-d1f1a8019e9f
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/e49f5471-72a0-4922-ade9-d1f5bafcf68b.yaml
    uri: /reference/e49f5471-72a0-4922-ade9-d1f5bafcf68b
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/f340f9c2-ebe0-4783-9c6f-f78ba6a0bcca.yaml
    uri: /reference/f340f9c2-ebe0-4783-9c6f-f78ba6a0bcca
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/f6f6574e-3be9-4ad5-a256-4aab31197491.yaml
    uri: /reference/f6f6574e-3be9-4ad5-a256-4aab31197491
  - href: https://data.globalchange.gov/reference/fee3896e-2ffd-4c5c-8032-2aa01e717187.yaml
    uri: /reference/fee3896e-2ffd-4c5c-8032-2aa01e717187
regions: []
report_identifier: nca3
statement: 'Rural communities face particular geographic and demographic obstacles in responding to and preparing for climate change risks. In particular, physical isolation, limited economic diversity, and higher poverty rates, combined with an aging population, increase the vulnerability of rural communities. Systems of fundamental importance to rural populations are already stressed by remoteness and limited access.'
uncertainties: 'Projecting the interactions of these variables with each other and applying this analysis to local or regional realities is complex at best, with uncertainties at every level of analysis. '
uri: /report/nca3/chapter/rural/finding/increased-rural-climate-change-risks
url: ~