Adapting to Climate Change in Maine

In April, 2009, the Maine State Legislature passed a Resolve charging the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with establishing and convening a stakeholder group to evaluate the options and actions available to Maine's people and businesses to prepare for and adapt to the most likely impacts of climate change. The stakeholder group will build upon the 2009 climate impact assessment, Maine's Climate Future, from the University of Maine, which concluded that climate is already changing in the state as a result of increased levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Even with the green house gas reduction goals set forth in Maine's 2004 Climate Action Plan, the state will see further changes in the years to come. DEP will submit its recommendations for how to respond to these changes to the Legislature in February, 2010.

The stakeholder coordinating committee, which includes representatives of business, industry, and trade; public interest groups; and state agencies, has formed several working groups which will use detailed analysis, technical reports, and other documents to form recommendations for the committee, and ultimately the DEP, to consider. This website is designed to provide members and the public access to documents, schedules, and other information related to the process.

The report will address the State's responses to climate change in areas such as:

Adaptation

Adapting to Climate Change in Maine

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