A primary goal of NECAP was to test the effectiveness of role-play simulations as a public education and engagement tool. At the same time—as we have indicated throughout this book—the intent behind NECAP was more ambitious. When we initiated NECAP, none of our partner municipalities had begun to seriously consider climate change risks and what they should do to prepare for them. We aimed to move these four towns beyond merely understanding climate change-related risks to the point where they could initiate actual planning and management. In other words, we sought to enhance their readiness to adapt. Through the process, we also sought to further refine our understanding of what “readiness” entails.

This chapter reflects on this broader goal and the key lessons learned along the way. In particular, it shares what we what now know about using different kinds of assessments and role-play simulations to introduce scientific information and initiate a public dialogue about climate change-related risks. It also reflects on the effects NECAP had in our partner communities and summarizes what we think are key lessons learned for those seeking to help coastal communities anticipate and manage climate-related risks.

Reflecting on the Components of NECAP

The previous chapters have explained the various elements of NECAP and how we approached them. Below, we draw on our research data and project partners’ responses to a “lessons learned” questionnaire sent out at the end of the project to reflect on what we learned about the key components of the project: the Summary Risk Assessments, Stakeholder Assessments, public opinion polling, role-play simulations and workshops and final town debriefings, as well as the partnerships on which NECAP was built.

Summary Risk Assessment

One consistent finding across all towns was the power of our Summary Risk Assessments to trigger local interest in adaptation. As one NERRS partner said in a comment that was similar to those made by many other partners, “this was one of the most helpful pieces of the project, and has been used the most in the town so far—[it] provided maps and projections that the town could sink [its] teeth into.”