The abandonment of any discussion of climate change in
Washington has not been followed in Massachusetts. Yesterday, Rick
Sullivan, the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs,
released the Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation
Report, providing the fruits of a lengthy process in
Massachusetts to look at the impacts of climate change on five
areas: Natural Resources and Habitat; Key Infrastructure; Human
Health and Welfare; Local Economy and Government; and Coastal Zone
and Oceans.
Certainly, the summary of potential impacts in Massachusetts is
not a pretty picture – speaking metaphorically, anyway;
many of the pictures in the report actually are pretty cool. For
those who want a quick idea, take a look at the 100-year flood in
downtown Boston under the high emissions scenario, on page 20 of
the Report.
