As reported in the New York Times, last week (at the Coastal Zone conference in Chicago), FEMA shared some results from a pending study looking at the projected effects of climate change on the National Flood Insurance Program. The short version? It’s not looking pretty, and the challenges won’t be confined to coastal areas either. […]
Tag Archives | weather & climate
NOAA Climate Program Office Funding Climate Adaptation Projects (LOI Due 26 July)
Posted on July 8, 2011
New NOAA funding opportunity (via Christa Rabenold): Climate and Societal Interactions Program The Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) Program provides leadership, both nationally and internationally, in developing interdisciplinary science and services, including assessments, for application in climate-sensitive sectors and regions. U.S. and internationally focused activities are housed within the same framework to facilitate cross-program community […]
East Coast Sea Level Rising Faster than it has in at Least 2,000 Years
Posted on June 24, 2011
This isn’t good news. According to a new study to be published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week, sea level is rising faster along the U.S. East Coast than it has for at least 2,000 years. The study concludes that the ocean began rising an average of 2.1 millimeters […]
Rolling Easements: Finally, a Long-Term Approach for Rising Seas and Coastal Erosion?
Posted on June 21, 2011
It’s not hard to get overwhelmed when considering your community’s current flood and erosion problems. Add in projections for what future climates will bring and it’s enough to make you want to just stay at home (at least until the sea comes into your home). Unfortunately, nobody has found a silver bullet to save coastal […]
Community Says Addressing Sea Level Rise Good for Local Economy
Posted on June 5, 2011
In tough economic times, there are those who think that municipalities need to be less particular about growth in order to be more “business friendly,” especially for issues felt to be far off in the future, like sea level rise. But Portland, Maine is choosing to address sea level rise head-on, and at least one […]
New England Climate Change: What’s Happening and What You Can Do
Posted on April 26, 2011
Our southern neighbors at the The University of Rhode Island Climate Change Collaborative and Rhode Island Sea Grant have just released a short new brochure on what climate change could mean for New England communities, and what steps your community can take to prepare for it. In addition to a brief overview of current expectations […]
Trying to Drive Climate Change Adaptation? Focus on Social, not Environmental Vision
Posted on April 21, 2011
Like most of us, I’d like to think that getting people the best information will drive them to make the right decisions. Certainly that’s been a big drive behind StormSmart Coasts. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that things aren’t that simple. It’s easy to find examples in our own lives of knowing better but still making […]
Want to Protect Your Community from Sea Level Rise? Protect Your Wetlands
Posted on April 15, 2011
When we first assembled the conceptual framework for StormSmart Coasts back in 2006, we made a deliberate decision to not focus on ecological and habitat issues. This wasn’t because we didn’t think these topics were important—clearly they were and are—but because we wanted to really zero in on hazards without getting entangled on all the […]
Another Radio Show on Massachusetts’s Rising Sea Levels
Posted on April 8, 2011
This time, from WGBH: Rising Sea Levels Threaten Massachusetts Coast, Sea Walls There’s no question about it. Sea levels are rising. 65 acres of Massachusetts coastline is taken back by the sea each year. Over the last century, ocean waters have crept up a full foot along the New England coast and new research shows […]
Radio Show Clip on Sea Level Rise in New England
Posted on April 5, 2011
From WBUR.org: “Many Worry About Rising Sea Levels In The Northeast” (Click on the “listen now” button, then skip to 4:15.) Not a lot of good news here, but interesting to see how the “retreat” option is now a standard part of these discussions. Could we be seeing the start of a mind-shift?