Strategic Initiative

Building Climate-Ready Communities

Helping communities connected to the Gulf of Maine successfully adapt to rapid change.

The best climate adaptation strategies reflect a deep understanding of climate impacts and are grounded in community values. We will lead community-engaged research and foster multi-generational connections to help communities inform, interpret, and act upon climate information. Connected with the right resources, Gulf of Maine communities can become a global model for science-based, community-driven resilience planning — and action

By 2030, we aim to achieve:

  • 100% of Maine’s tidally influenced communities can access localized climate data.

  • Financing mobilized to start climate action in at least 15 municipalities and solutions identified for an additional 10 communities.

  • At least 60,000 students, 1,000 educators, 100 municipal/community leaders, and 100 business or industry leaders have access to new knowledge, resources, and relationships.

Building Climate-Ready Communities Work

We conduct community-engaged research that equips people in the Gulf of Maine and beyond to undertake equitable and sustainable climate adaptation actions. This research supports our ability to develop intergenerational networks to connect communities with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to thrive in a changing world. Explore our progress so far.

  • Climate Adaptation Resource Hub for Fishing Communities

    Climate Adaptation Resource Hub for Fishing Communities

    We are working to support informed decision making in fisheries responding to climate change by combining community-specific information on climate-driven shifts of marine species with …

  • Community Climate Action

    Community Climate Action

    We engage with coastal communities, combining local knowledge and expertise with the best available scientific data to envision — and realize — a climate-resilient and …

  • Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE)

    Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE)

    To tackle ever evolving climate challenges, it's critical that everywhere youth go in their community – from the classroom, to the library, to parks, and …

It was a very interesting and at times conflicting feeling seeing the effects of climate change so up close. It was really exciting, being able to do some real groundwork research and feel like a part of the solution.

Student Scientist & Coastal Flooding Community Science Project Participant Machias, ME

Read More