Coastal communities are facing the effects of climate change, and have to gradually change their risk management practices. This paper is about adaptation to climate change processes in two small coastal communities of the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick. We focus on the relation between representation of risk, people’s view on adaptation possibilities and their commitment to adaptation strategies. We use both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. We find that a high degree of risk perception is not always directly associated with a strong commitment to adaptation strategies. For example, respondents seem to be more concerned about their community’s future than for themselves, but up to now, adaptation is mostly an individual and reactive process. We notice that even though the study sites are at close proximity and their residents share a similar level of risk perception, adaptive processes are not the same in each community. This brings us to question the conditions that can promote a better integration of the climate change issues into risk management strategies in each community. Risk awareness is essential but not sufficient. Knowledge transfer activities based on actors' experiences as well as accessibility to adaptation options could facilitate the commitment of stakeholders. The social and economic cost of adaptation processes and community development directions should be more explicitly taken into account and discussed. Communities need to reinforce their capabilities to have an open dialogue on complex and uncertain issues.