Climate Resilience in Coastal Massachusetts A Survey of Municipal Challenges, Plans, and Needs MARTA VICARELLI, ROB DECONTO, DARCI CONNOR MARESCA, & CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
The Northeast Center for Coastal Resilience—a partnership across the University of Massachusetts system with more than 60 collaborating faculty and researchers and more than 50 regional partners—conducted a survey of Massachusetts municipalities and planning agencies focusing on coastal resilience. The report produced from the survey results provides a comprehensive outlook of the climate-change hazards and impacts experienced in coastal and inland areas, the resilience strategies adopted, and the barriers encountered.
Introduction and Overview New England is experiencing a combination of rapid atmospheric warming 1,2 increasing frequency of extreme precipitation and wind events 3,4,5 and accelerating sea-level rise (SLR).6,7 These phenomena are creating compounded climate impacts with increasing stresses on natural, built, and socioeconomic systems in coastal New England.8 There is uncertainty about society’s level of preparedness and resilience planning in response to these changes. The findings of this survey-based study provide a comprehensive outlook and a data baseline for climate resilience in Massachusetts, 22
with emphasis on the Blue Economy, from the perspective of municipalities and regional planners. The Blue Economy is defined here as inclusive and resilient coastal communities supported by thriving maritime (or oceanic) economic sectors that value and integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services for coastal and ocean health. The survey gathered information on the climate-change hazards and impacts experienced in coastal and non-coastal (i.e., inland) municipalities; the resilience strategies adopted to address these challenges; the barriers encountered during the design and implementation of resilience strategies; and M AS S BE N C H M A R KS . O R G