1. Climate Change Impacts in the United States Third National Climate Assessment [Name] [Date] Rural Communities

2. Rural Communities http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/rural-communities http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/rural-communities Convening Lead Authors – David Hales, Second Nature – William Hohenstein, U.S. Department of Agriculture Lead Authors – Marcie D. Bidwell, Mountain Studies Institute – Craig Landry, East Carolina University – David McGranahan, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Joseph Molnar, Auburn University – Lois Wright Morton, Iowa State University – Marcela Vasquez, University of Arizona Contributing Authors – Jenna Jadin, U.S. Department of Agriculture

3. Rural Counties Figure source: USDA Economic Research Service 2013

4. Economic Dependence Varies by Region Figure source: USDA Economic Research Service 2013

5. Rural Economies Rural communities are highly dependent upon natural resources for their livelihoods and social structures. Climate change related impacts are currently affecting rural communities. These impacts will progressively increase over this century and will shift the locations where rural economic activities (like agriculture, forestry, and recreation) can thrive.

6. Growing Season Lengthens Figure source: NOAA NCDC / CICS-NC

7. Climate Change Impacts on Summertime Tourism Figure source: Nicholls et al. 2005

8. Responding to Risks 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.

9. Many Rural Areas are Losing Population Figure source: USDA Economic Research Service 2013

10. Adaptation Responding to additional challenges from climate change impacts will require significant adaptation within rural transportation and infrastructure systems, as well as health and emergency response systems. Governments in rural communities have limited institutional capacity to respond to, plan for, and anticipate climate change impacts.

11. Climate Change Impacts in the United States http://nca2014.globalchange.gov http://nca2014.globalchange.gov Third National Climate Assessment @usgcrp facebook.com/usgcrp #NCA2014 [Name & Contact Info]