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11195154 
Book/Book Chapter 
Ch. 14: Rural communities 
Hales, D; Hohenstein, W; Bidwell, MD; Landry, C; McGranahan, D; Molnar, J; Morton, LW; Vasquez, M; Jadin, J 
2014 
U.S. Global Change Research Program 
Washington, DC 
Climate change impacts in the United States: The third national climate assessment 
333-349 
English 
is a chapter of 2828356 Climate change impacts in the United States: The third National Climate Assessment
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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. 
Melillo, JM; Richmond, TC; Yohe, GW 
9780160924026