Title: Household Preferences for Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan in Florida.

Abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that global sea levels have been rising at an accelerating rate. This trend, linked with global warming, is posing a great risk to the communities living in the low elevation coastal areas. Florida is particularly vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise (SLR) due to its low topography, porous geology, subtropical climate, and densely populated coastal counties. This study aims to understand public preferences and produce estimates of economic value for sea level rise adaptation projects. Specifically, a series of choice experiments embedded in a household survey of Florida’s selected communities were used to: 1) examine the determinants of households’ preferences for short term adaption plans and long term adaptation plans; 2) identify the spatially heterogeneous preferences in household choices, by incorporating detailed spatial information generated by Geographical Information Systems (GIS) into the survey data; 3) investigate the differences and similarities in perceptions and preferences among Florida’s yearlong and seasonal residents. The empirical results can provide important inputs to the design of optimal adaptation plans and mitigation policies to avoid risks posed by climate change-induced sea level rise.