| Summary: | Nova Scotia has the longest provincial coastline in Canada, yet is the only Atlantic province without a coastal policy. With the increasing threat of climate change, the Government of Nova Scotia was elected in 2017 on a promise to develop a Coastal Protection Act (CPA). In collaboration with the Ecology Action Centre (EAC), this study considers the potential for a CPA to address key coastal issues (development regulation, ecosystem protection, hazard management) and improve coastal sustainability in comparison to policy alternatives. A policy analysis of existing provincial legislation and stakeholder interviews inform a future scenario analysis of four coastal policy outcomes for Nova Scotia: the No Policy Change, Provincial Policy Amendments, Municipal Coastal By-Law Model and CPA scenarios. Results indicate that a CPA is the most desirable and feasible scenario offering comprehensive and consistent protection of coastal areas across the province and meeting growing stakeholder demand for new provincial legislation. Public education, community and Mi’kmaw consultation, stakeholder collaboration and complementary policy development are recommended as additional actions for the EAC to take in addressing coastal issues no matter the policy outcome.
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