WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL SANDS
Whether it was the record-breaking year of heat on our planet or the growing danger of storms here in Maine, climate change is a topic that is on most of our minds in one way or another. While we may treasure the milder winters and longer growing seasons here in Maine due to climate change, we face many obstacles as a state. It is with this in mind that Maine’s Climate Council has developed a four-year plan to address climate change in our state.
Maine’s Pressing Issues
Maine’s Climate Council reports focus on the different regions of Maine. While some aspects of climate change impact all of us in similar ways, the different regions of Maine are also experiencing some unique impacts. For Central Maine, the climate council focuses on seven key areas of impact — landscape, infrastructure, health, ecosystems, heritage and natural resource industries, recreation, and the economy.
Landscape
In our area, winters are shorter and summers are longer by about two weeks. While this has increased the growing season here in Maine, which seems like a perk for farmers and growers, this shift has also increased the number of killing frosts in the spring. Warmer temperatures early cause trees to awaken and flowers to bloom. When a fruit tree has begun to blossom, a frost can be devastating. The negative impact of these killing frosts can be felt on both an individual and industry level.
Infrastructure
Central Maine is seeing an increase in intense downpours, where a large amount of rain falls in a fairly short time. This leads to flooding and damage to everything from culverts to bridges. This flooding also puts people’s homes, septic systems, homesteads, farms, and more at risk.
Health
The heat has a negative impact on our health here in Central Maine. As the number of days over 90 degrees rises each year (climate models predict a two- to four-fold increase in “extreme” heat days by 2050), Mainers may experience some negative health effects from this heat. In an area where there are still many homes without air conditioning, extreme heat days put people at risk. The extreme heat also puts people who work outdoors at risk of heat-related illnesses.
Ecosystems
According to Maine’s Climate Council, “Forests cover nearly 89% of Maine and sequester over 60% of the state’s annual carbon emissions.” Climate change puts our forest systems at risk. While some areas may thrive, other areas may struggle under extreme stressors of drought and a rise in invasive species.
Heritage and Natural Resource Industries
Maine’s forest industry is an 8-to-10-billion-dollar industry, and climate change presents challenges for both the forests and the industry. Forest road use is expected to become challenging and costly as we see a decline in the number of frozen days each year, and it is important to note that, according to the council’s report, “Maine has some of the highest densities of non-native forest pests in the U.S.”
Recreation
Maine is Vacationland, and recreation in our region is not only important economically but also to our quality of life. Warmer temperatures each winter mean ice is disappearing making activities like ice fishing more dangerous. The lack of snowpack also limits skiing and snowmobiling. Warmer waters in our region impact the survival of many species of fish.
Economy
The negative impacts on our recreation also have a negative impact on our economy. The lack of winter recreation in our area impacts a variety of small businesses, from restaurants to lodging and bars. The changing climate also impacts agriculture and can pose challenges for Maine’s farmers.
Maine’s Plans for Addressing Climate Change Issues
Maine’s plan for addressing the impacts of climate change in our state focuses on reducing greenhouse emissions, avoiding costs related to inaction, fostering economic opportunity, and advancing equity. Maine’s plan emphasizes green transportation, energy efficiency, and improved weatherization to reduce our overall greenhouse emissions. The goal is to decrease emissions by 45% by 2030. To help avoid the great costs of inaction when it comes to climate change, the plan centers around creating safeguards to protect our communities and infrastructure because, without action, Maine is looking at $17.5 billion dollars in damage from sea level rise alone.
The good news is that shifting our focus to clean energy and improved infrastructure can create good jobs, and Maine’s Climate Council also emphasizes the need to keep our energy expenditures within the state. Finally, one of the goals of any plan to address climate change has to be equity because climate change has the greatest impact on low-income communities who are more vulnerable to the consequences.
What Mainers Can Do to Help
In many ways, any information that is summarized about climate change impact and action is going to be simplified, but it can also feel overwhelming when we think about the details of what is happening in our state and what work must be done to be better prepared for a changing future. However, one of the healthiest things we can do for our mindsets is take action.
According to Maine’s Climate Council, transportation accounts for 49% of Maine’s fossil fuel emissions, so the way we get from one place to another is important. In addition to federal tax credits for elective vehicles (EVs), Efficiency Maine offers rebates that vary from $500 to $7,500 depending upon your income. If you are not interested in an EV, there are ways to be conscientious about the way we drive, such as running multiple errands at once to avoid multiple trips into town, ride sharing when possible, and taking public transportation when it is available.
Maine’s Climate Council also offers information on ways that we, as individuals, can help. Right now, there are federal tax incentives and numerous Maine programs to help Mainers make a greener home, which will not only cut down on greenhouse emissions but can also save money and create greater comfort during our longer and hotter summers. For example, Efficiency Maine has programs to help homeowners purchase and install heat pumps in their homes. While the funds available to individuals vary by income level, there is some help for everyone with extensive help for lower-income families. Efficiency Maine also has programs to help with weatherization and water heating, and you can find out more at effiencymaine.com.