Massachusetts Climate Strategy Brings Together Its 78 Coastal Communities

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has announced a plan to assist the state’s 78 coastal communities from Cape Cod to the North Shore, where 2.5 million live, with their development of long-term regulatory, policy, and funding solutions to the effects of climate change.

A key component of the plan, which is called ResilientCoasts, is the delineation of Coastal Resilience Districts, geographic regions that share similar landscapes and climate hazards. The hope is that this collaboration will help identify tailored resilience policy and regulatory strategies and assist in obtaining state and federal funding.

The Bay State has more than 1,500 miles of coastline, spanning salt marshes, beaches, rocky shores, dunes, ports and harbors, and residential and commercial areas along the shores of 78 cities and towns. These geographic differences, along with variations in development, habitats, and other factors, underly the need for a regional approach to coastal resilience, according to Healey’s administration.

“Climate change poses a very real threat to our coastal way of life, but it also presents a unique opportunity for us to build communities that are safer and more equitable for years to come,” said Healey. “This is a matter of fiscal responsibility. Our coastal cities and towns have been weathering erosion, sea level rise, and extreme storms without a holistic state strategy. Homeowners, small businesses, and municipal governments deserve a regional approach to this problem. Our ResilientCoasts initiative will allow us to bring the full powers of the state to deliver real solutions to our coastlines.”

The Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) will lead the ResilientCoasts initiative. CZM has experience with technical assistance, funding, partnerships, and regulatory review to address coastal threats that the administration said will help communities act swiftly in mitigating the impacts of climate change including flooding. A newly created chief coastal resilience officer position will oversee this effort and provide cross-agency coordination.

Massachusetts has been warned to expect sea level to rise by up to 2.5 feet by 2050 compared to 2008 if global emissions are not significantly reduced. Both tidal and storm-related flooding are projected to increase.

By 2070, statewide annual average damages to coastal structures could be more than $1 billion per year. The number of vulnerable infrastructure assets and anticipated loss are expected to grow over time as rising seas expand the coastal floodplain.

In terms of resilience strategies, CZM will work with state agencies to evaluate building standards, financing strategies, and scientific best practices. CZM will work with communities to assess strategies such as nature-based solutions, dredging, coastal nourishment, roadway elevation, and managed retreat.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will lead an evaluation of a statewide buyout program.

ResilientCoasts will be identifying financing mechanisms for climate resilience projects. Already, CZM has applied for $73 million in federal funds for climate resilience.

CZM will work with agencies to identify updates to the state’s wetlands, waterways, the building code, and environmental regulations to better address the climate challenges. The agencies will evaluate changes to support nature-based solutions for coastal erosion and flood protection; streamline the permitting process for coastal restoration and resilience projects; and ensure that permitting processes consider projected future sea level rise and precipitation levels that are based on the latest science and accurately reflect the changing climate.

The plan also calls for a task force with communities, businesses, scientists, community-based organizations, and environmental advocates to support the development of a strategy that meets the needs of coastal communities.

“We’re not going to stand by while a major storm wrecks people’s homes, or coastal erosion pulls down seawalls out from under our small businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We have some tough questions ahead – where will it be safe to build? How can we preserve our historical landmarks? What infrastructure will withstand ever worsening weather? We’re taking on some of the difficult aspects of coastal resiliency, and we’re doing it in partnership with municipalities, lawmakers, academics, and advocates to build consensus along the way.”

“Investors and other financial actors have long recognized the severe risks facing coastal communities from climate change. Massachusetts residents and business owners are experiencing those risks first-hand, and more intensely with each passing storm,” stated Alli Gold Roberts, senior state policy director at Ceres, a nonprofit focused on making the financial case for sustainability.

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Topics Massachusetts