Search Results
Resource
Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Commission: Volume 1 - Report and Recommendations (Draft)
January 7, 2015
This draft report issued in January 2015 presents the work, findings, and recommendations of the Massachusetts Coastal Erosion Commission. Organized into two volumes, Volume 1 contains the body of the report with seven chapters and appendices and Volume 2 contains the technical reports of the Commission’s three Working Groups of Science and Technology, Legal and Regulatory, and Erosion Impacts.
Resource Category: Assessments
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Greater Boston, Massachusetts Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
January 2015
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council of Boston (MAPC) released their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in 2015, which aims to direct economic development throughout the region until 2020. While the Strategy describes dozens of action items to increase economic resilience, one of the priorities is to address the impacts that climate change will have on Boston’s economy, especially on vulnerable, under-represented communities. The Strategy establishes several goals to increase the City’s economic resilience in the face of climate change and support these frontline communities, including for income inequality within the region to decrease, and that the Metro Area grow a strong supply of skilled and educated workers. In order to achieve these goals, the CEDS recommends several economic development and climate resilience actions to be implemented by policymakers, business owners, local colleges, and more.
Resource Category: Planning
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Ready for Tomorrow: The City Of Salem, Massachusetts Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan
December 2014
The City of Salem, Massachusetts Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan focuses on steps the city can take to remain a livable city with a strong economy and tourism sector in the face of climate change impacts. Key expected climate change impacts for Salem include extreme heat events, extreme precipitation events, sea level rise, and storm surge. The report addresses these impacts across the priority sectors of critical building infrastructure, water, energy, stormwater, transportation, and vulnerable populations.
Resource Category: Planning
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Encroaching Tides: How Sea Level Rise and Tidal Flooding Threaten U.S. East and Gulf Coast Communities over the Next 30 Years
October 2014
This report from the Union of Concerned Scientists describes the threat of tidal flooding in the East Coast and Gulf regions and offers steps that communities can take to adapt. The report makes the case that tidal flooding, currently just considered a nuisance, could become a daily or weekly occurrence, redefining how and where people along the coast “live, work, play, and move through their daily lives. " Data was collected in 52 locations to provide projections for sea level rise and tidal flooding in the region until 2045.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Erika Spanger-Siegfried, Melanie Fitzpatrick, Kristina Dahl
Resource Category: Solutions
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
The Urban Implications of Living with Water (Boston, Massachusetts)
October 1, 2014
From the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Boston/New England, this report examines the threats of climate change in Boston - specifically, sea level rise and its related impacts. The report also provides short-term, mid-term and long-term solutions, which the real estate community and public sector can adopt to improve preparedness and response to the effects of rising seas.
Resource Category: Planning
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Designing with Water: Creative Solutions from Around the Globe
August 1, 2014
Developed by The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) and Sasaki Associates, this report focuses on urban design solutions to sea level rise resulting from climate change. Designing with Water provides Boston-relevant case studies and innovative designs for city planners and developers to adapt to flooding and enhance urban resiliency. The report is the second in the Preparing for the Rising Tides series, which the TBHA first released in 2013, assessing the neighborhood-level sea level rise flooding risk to Boston.
Author or Affiliated User: Julie Wormser
Resource Category: Solutions
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning Study for Water Quality Infrastructure in New Bedford, Fairhaven and Acushnet, Massachusetts
June 30, 2014
The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program, through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), hired SeaPlan, an environmental planning firm, to conduct a climate ready estuary assessment and planning effort for the municipalities surrounding New Bedford Harbor. The purpose of this project is to develop an understanding of possible impacts of climate change and potential future responses by the Towns of Acushnet and Fairhaven, and the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, with specific attention on sea level rise (SLR), precipitation, and frequency or intensity of storms that may affect public infrastructure related to water quality and habitat protection.
Resource Category: Planning
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Metro Boston Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Report
June 30, 2014
The Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) has developed this adaptation strategy in response to research on the current and projected climate change impacts for the 101 cities and towns of the Metro Boston area of Massachusetts. A Vulnerability Assessment was conducted in developing this strategy and finds that the region is expected to experience an increase in frequency and severity of rain and snow storms, and an increase in heat waves, and sea level rise as a result of climate change.
Resource Category: Planning
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts, Climate Action and Clean Energy Plan
February 2014
The Pioneer Valley Climate Action and Clean Energy Plan presents an impact assessment of climate change in the Pioneer Valley region of Massachusetts, and provides many local and regional climate adaptation strategies. This plan identifies the amounts and sources of the Pioneer Valley’s greenhouse gas emissions; offers regional targets for GHG reduction in a Clean Energy Plan Update; and recommends detailed strategies for both mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts.
Resource Category: Planning
See Resource Login to Add to My Resource List
Resource
Massachusetts Climate Preparedness Initiative
January 14, 2014
Massachusetts's Climate Preparedness Initiative, from Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, is a $50 million investment for a statewide plan to address the present and future impacts of climate change. These investments will assess and address vulnerabilities in public health, transportation, energy and the Commonwealth’s built environment.
Resource Category: Law and Governance


