Maine Climate Council hopes to deliver state's 'action plan' by Dec. 1
Photo / Maureen Milliken
The Maine Climate Council is compiling information as it prepares to present its report to the governor and Maine Legislature Dec. 1. The council was formed in April 2019 to look at ways for the state to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change.
The Maine Climate Council has started a busy three months of work, gearing up to produce a final four-year Climate Action Plan for the state, due Dec. 1.
The council is holding virtual meetings on reports by its six working groups this month that comprise a virtual framework for the action plan. There's also a slate of meetings scheduled for October and into November to review the groups' findings.
The overall goal of the council is to recommend ways Maine can address climate change in an economical and equitable way; meet greenhouse gas reductions and renewable energy generation targets, including the state's goal of being carbon neutral by 2045; grow lasting economic opportunities across the state through innovation and new industries; and ensure communities, industries and people are resilient to the effects of climate change.
World climate trends "remain unchanged and unsettling," despite global and economic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the council said in a news release. Portland had its warmest summer on record this year, and a recent analysis released by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency found that July’s global land and water temperature was the second highest on record, according to the release.
“The threat to Maine from climate change is growing, and no aspect of Maine life will be untouched by its effects,” said Hannah Pingree, director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and climate council co-chair. “The council has the all the ingredients to create a plan to combat climate change that will protect our environment, prompt economic recovery, and ensure all Maine people are heard.”
The council's working groups have gathered new research on the economic and environmental impact of climate change and the solutions to address it. Research includes cost/benefit analyses and data modeling of climate strategies, as well as an analysis of the “cost of doing nothing” about climate change on Maine, the release said.
A three-hour meeting was held this morning on reports from the Transportation, Energy and Buildings working groups. It focused on bringing the future of transportation to Maine, modernizing Maine's buildings to be energy efficient, smart and cost-effective; driving innovation to reduce carbon emissions in Maine's energy and industrial sectors.
Next Wednesday, a meeting will be held on the Lands, Coastal Marine and Resilience/Public Health/Emergency Management groups. It will focus on preparing for the impact of climate change, including building healthy and resilient communities, investing in climate-ready infractructure; protecting Maine’s environment economy and natural resource economy; and promoting natural climate solutions.
Impact, cost to be evaluated
Other work this fall includes a detailed equity assessment of the council's proposed climate change strategies, which evaluates their potential impact on underrepresented communities. The assessment was undertaken this summer in collaboration with the U.S. Sen. George Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine.
In addition to recommending new policy through the Climate Action Plan, the council will monitor the state’s progress quarterly, report progress on its goals every two years to the people of Maine and update the Climate Action Plan every four years.
The council, formed by Gov. Janet Mills and approved by the Legislature in April 2019, includes science and technical experts, business and nonprofit leaders, state and municipal leaders, a tribal representative, a representative of Maine youth and others comprise the council.
Public feedback on the proposed climate strategies will also be shared with the council this fall. Since the strategies were unveiled in June, the council has received thousands of responses from people across Maine, who shared their opinions through online surveys, virtual public events, and written comments, the council said. Written feedback can be submitted through Sept. 24.
Melanie Loyzim, acting commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, has been named council co-chair, replacing Jerry Reid.
The council’s virtual meetings are open to the public, but registration for the Zoom webinar is required. For the meeting schedule and registration information, visit climatecouncil.maine.gov.
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