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Financing Climate Resilience: Mobilizing Resources and Incentives to Protect Boston from Climate Risks
April 2018
Financing Climate Resilience was developed by the University of Massachusetts Sustainable Solutions Lab to help the City of Boston identify proactive strategies for financing investments in flood protection and other climate-related risks. The report details the scale of the climate resilience investments needed to reduce climate risks in Boston, estimating that between $1 and $2. 4 billion in investment will be needed in the medium-term to protect the City from climate change impacts. The report examines a range of financing mechanisms that the City could use including bonds, taxes, resilience fees (e.
Authors or Affiliated Users: David Levy, Rebecca Herst
Resource Category: Funding
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Agricultural Climate Resiliency and Efficiencies (ACRE) Program for Massachusetts
March 2018
The Agricultural Climate Resiliency & Efficiencies (ACRE) was created as part of the implementation of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, which focuses reducing carbon emissions and building a more climate resilient Massachusetts. The program advances that goal - as well as more specific goals identified in the Massachusetts Local Action Food Plan - by providing grants to producers to implement practices that improve their farms’ resiliency. $500,000 in grants have gone to 16 Massachusetts farms to install practices that help mitigate and adapt to climate impacts.
Resource Category: Funding
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From the Ground Up: The State of the States on Climate Adaptation for Agriculture
March 2018
Recognizing the leading role that states are playing in addressing climate change, this report from the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy catalogues policies related to the need for agricultural adaptation in the 18 states states with climate adaptation plans (or specific agricultural policy papers). These states include: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Resource Category: Planning
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Patterns and Projections of High Tide Flooding Along the U.S. Coastline Using a Common Impact Threshold
February 2018
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) analyzes "high tide flooding" (also known as "nuisance flooding") in this report, and finds that it is becoming more commonplace due to sea level rise. High tide flooding impacts roads, beaches, parks, and private property, and is generally more disruptive than damaging. However, there are places such as Norfolk, Virginia; San Diego, California; and the U. S Marshall islands where it is currently a serious problem. Even more, with continued sea level rise, flooding is likely to increase.
Authors or Affiliated Users: William Sweet, Greg Dusek, Jayantha Obeysekera, John Marra
Resource Category: Data and tools
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Climate Adaptation and Liability: A Legal Primer and Workshop Summary Report
January 31, 2018
The Conservation Law Foundation addresses the legal liability risks of decision makers if they fail to prepare for climate change impacts to infrastructure in this report. Theories of legal liability are described for design professionals (such as engineers and architects) or government entities (like a city or a water reclamation district) as related to climate adaptation and resilience of buildings, roads, and other critical infrastructure. The report was produced from workshops that took place in Boston and has many references to specific laws and regulations in Massachusetts.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Elena Mihaly, Deanna Moran
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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New England and Northern New York Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A Report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework Project
January 2018
Led by the U. S. Forest Service (USFS)’s Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, this assessment evaluates the climate change vulnerability of forested ecosystems in the New England region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, northern New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont). The report summarizes the current state of forests in the region including threats and management trends, describes climate impacts as they would progress under projected future climate scenarios, and relays the results of an extensive vulnerability assessment of the region’s forests.
Resource Category: Assessments
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Greening the Gateway Cities Program
2018
The Massachusetts Greening the Gateway Cities Program (GGCP) aims to increase tree canopy cover in the state’s Gateway Cities, which are urban centers facing economic and social challenges due to recent losses in industry and manufacturing power. The program is currently operating in 18 residential areas with the goal of covering 5% of each area in new tree canopy cover. This initiative aims to reduce heat stress as well as energy use and cost for Massachusetts residents.
Resource Category: Funding
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Great Marsh Coastal Adaptation Plan
December 2017
The National Wildlife Federation, in partnership with the Ipswich River Watershed Association, developed this adaptation plan for six coastal communities in northeastern Massachusetts (Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, and Rowley) that are in the Great Marsh and highly vulnerable to climate change. The report includes thorough reviews of vulnerability assessments of current and future coastal climate threats for the region and for each town. Near and long-term strategies that reduce risk and increase ecosystem and community resiliency are described for each of the six communities and regionally as well.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Taj Schottland, Christopher Hilke
Resource Category: Solutions
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The State of Narragansett Bay and Its Watershed
2017
This analysis assesses the current conditions and projected trends for the Narragansett Bay, a watershed that spans Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is home to 1. 95 million people. The research is the culmination of multiple years of study by universities, organizations, federal partners, and agencies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The results are presented in a shorter summary document and a 500-page technical report. In addition to other stressors including water quality and pollution, urbanization, and changes to habitats, the researchers look at the impacts of climate change now and in the future.
Resource Category: Assessments
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Coast Resilience Solutions for East Boston and Charlestown, Massachusetts
October 2017
East Boston and Charlestown, Massachusetts are coastal communities that face significant vulnerability to sea-level rise and coastal flooding. Created with the support of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Barr Foundation, this report describes local climate risks, and provides short- and long-term resilience strategies for these areas. This is the first neighborhood coastal resilience plan to be implemented from the Climate Ready Boston plan and initiative.
Resource Category: Solutions


