Building Coast-Smart Communities: How Will Maryland Adapt to Climate Change?

The purpose of the simulated negotiation is to engage key local and state leaders in difficult conversations about the steps coastal communities can take to adapt to climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, storm inundation and coastal erosion. This simulation will be based on a hypothetical Maryland community that reflects the reality of many of our coastal towns and cities.

In the simulation, participants will negotiate a set of actions that this hypothetical Maryland coastal community must take to reduce its vulnerability to climate change. The actions will be scored on a “Coast-smart community scorecard” that ranks each action’s effectiveness and cost. Participants will play the role of different stakeholders in this hypothetical community and must reach a minimum total score to qualify for benefits under a hypothetical state-funded, incentive-based initiative called the Coast Smart Community Bill. Through this simulated negotiation, participants will:

  • Witness firsthand how diverse community stakeholders can negotiate agreements to address the challenge of climate change coastal impacts.
  • Quickly learn more about the choices communities face as they adapt to new risks
  • Learn new negotiating skills, and practice them in a safe environment
  • Gain knowledge about other community stakeholders’ viewpoints and concerns


Importantly, this initial event will create a network of community leaders who can replicate the simulation process in their own community while coordinating and learning from other Maryland coastal communities.

To learn more about this simulation, contact us.