Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Finance BSBA

Department

Finance, Real Estate, and Business Law

First Advisor

Dr. Kimberly Goodwin

Advisor Department

Finance, Real Estate, and Business Law

Abstract

Changes in climate conditions are reshaping our environments and impacting ecosystems. A product of these changes is worsening climate events, and for Mississippi, that means increasingly frequent, high-intensity storms and floods. Its immediate and residual effects can range from disruptive to destructive. Mississippi and its communities are highly vulnerable to the effects of intense natural disasters, and there is a discrepancy between the need for climate-resilient infrastructure investments and the state’s fiscal capabilities to finance the research and construction of such projects. This paper will evaluate existing cases of climate-resilient infrastructure in effect through a sustainable finance lens and identify the respective project’s financial viability and transferable strategies. Using a five-dimensional framework to evaluate effectiveness and efficiency, there will be a comparative case study of Italy’s MOSE structure, China’s sponge cities, and the Netherlands’ “Room for the River” program. These cases were selected for their varied constructive nature: engineered (grey) infrastructure for short-term goals, hybrid infrastructure with moderate results, and nature-based infrastructure as the most adaptive and sustainable. The financial viability to enact similar programs and construct structures exists from the efforts of government entities. Yet, there is a lack of presence from private investments, limited by existing socio-economic structures and uncertainty and risk of such ventures. The existing gap can be bridged with sustainable finance, and the exploration of global methods can bring forth ideas and potential paths for the consideration of Mississippi’s governance structures and investors.

Comments

Blanket Permission for Future Readers: Uncertain, please contact me with future requests at the following NON-USM email address: tratngan24@gmail.com

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