Climate Change: Ready or Not

In the spring of 2008, SSCW engaged a team of Tufts University graduate students from the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Department
to investigate the potential impacts of climate change to Salem Sound communities. In particular, the team focused on the City of Beverly.

Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and a team of more than
fifty independent experts are working to develop and communicate
a new assessment of climate change.

Links to learn more about Climate Adaptation

"Adaptation is not really anything new, it is just better planning and using different information (future projections) in recognition that the future will be different than the past. All adaptive actions should try to fall into the win-win-win category: where there is a benefit now, a benefit in the future, and could still be a benefit whether the climate changes as projected or we are surprised."
from the Adaptation Network a project fo the Earth Island Institute
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Estuaries Preparing to Be Climate Ready

Water Headlines for June 23, 2008

Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water

Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.

EPA has selected six estuaries to be case studies for local action to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems and economies from the potential effects of climate change. This is the first step in EPA's new "Climate Ready Estuaries" effort to build local ability to adapt to climate change.

"EPA's Climate Ready Estuaries work will help coastal communities understand and adapt to climate change," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "Our aim is to build capacity for local decision makers and resource managers to help take pro-active, practical steps for bays at risk."

The six pilots include New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Massachusetts Bays Estuary Program, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds National Estuary Program, Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program and San Francisco Estuary Project.

Each estuary program will receive technical assistance to assess and reduce their vulnerability to climate change. The programs will apply analyses and tools to help them make decisions to protect their communities and build knowledge to help other communities adapt to a changing climate. Communities with plans approved by their local stakeholders will be designated as "Climate Ready Estuaries" by EPA. The Climate Ready Estuaries effort will take the lessons learned from the pilots to provide information and leadership to other coastal communities around the nation. Under the Climate Ready Estuaries framework, EPA will use the 28 National Estuary Programs, Web-based resources and other means identified through the initial pilots to support local efforts in all of the nation's coastal communities to effectively plan and adapt to climate change.

The Climate Ready Estuaries program is one of more than 40 specific actions to respond to the water-related impacts of climate change that are described in a draft strategy developed by the National Water Program. The draft strategy is designed to help water resource managers adapt their programs to a changing climate.

For more information on Climate Ready Estuaries: www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/cre.html
For information on the water climate change strategy: www.epa.gov/water/climatechange
EPA Brochure: Findings and Summary of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Climate Change and Ecosystems: Summary of Recent Findings (PDF= 1.1MB).

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Climate Change: Ready or Not

The six communities of Marblehead, Salem, Peabody, Danvers, Beverly and Manchester, which constitute the Salem Sound area, face increased risk to climate change due in large part to their coastal locations. In order to help ensure that these communities are moving in the direction of increasing their climate change resiliency, Salem Sound Coastwatch (SSCW) partnered with Tufts University UEP students to perform a climate change vulnerability assessment to better understand the local impacts of climate change, the vulnerabilities local populations will face as a result, and strategies Salem Sound communities can use in order to effectively adapt to these changes.

Background information is provided on the specific projected impacts the region will face in the future. A framework for addressing physical and social vulnerability was identified using Geographic Information System software, highlighting particular populations and spaces susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Finally, key concepts and strategies are reviewed and recommended, providing a starting point for how these communities can incorporate, enhance, and implement adaptation initiatives that will make their communities resilient, safe and sustainable in the long term.

Climate Change: Ready or Not Report - May 2008 (3.8 MB PDF)