ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED CLIMATE STRATEGY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH

EXECUTIVE ORDER 569

Recognizing the Importance of Climate Change and directing state government to respond

SectionsI. MitigationII. Section 3(d)III. Adaptation and ResiliencyIV. Climate coordinatorsV. Timeline

Progress on Emissions Reductions• 21% as of 2014

DRAFT NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Section 3: Adaptation• Secretary of EEA and Secretary of EOPSS• Within 2 years publish a statewide climate adaptation

plan• Establish vulnerability assessment frameworks for state

agencies and municipalities• Provide technical assistance to cities and towns to

complete assessments and identify adaptation strategies• Implement the plan• Update at least every 5 years

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Section 4: Climate Coordinators• All Cabinet Secretaries will designate a climate

coordinator in each executive office• Serve as point person• Meet under the leadership of EEA and EOPSS to assist in the

development and implementation of the Climate Adaptation Plan• Within two years of this Order assess the vulnerability to climate

change and extreme weather events for the Coordinator’s Executive Office

• Incorporate results into existing policies and plans for that office

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Integrated State Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Plan

Slow moving changes vs. hazards

Downscaled Climate Projections

Timeline for Data delivery

Temperature and precipitation projections: August 2017

Sea level rise scenarios (May 2017) and inundation modeling summer/fall 2017

Hydrology modeling October 2017

• Each product & approach is being peer reviewed by experts outside the UMass system

• Data will be translated into meaningful outputs for stakeholders & managers using the info.

Downscaled climate projections• Provide projections on changes in temperature and

precipitation means and extremes and associated climate variables identified

• Vetted by peer reviewers and key stakeholders.

• The projections will be based on downscaling of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) archive for 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s for two scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the following variables:

Climate variables

• Daily maximum temperature (F), • Daily minimum temperature (F), • Daily average temperature (F), • Growing degree day

accumulation, base 50 F, • Heating degree day

accumulation, base 65 F, • Cooling degree day accumulation,

base 65 F, • Counts of days with maximum

temperature above 90 F, • Counts of days with maximum

temperature above 95 F, • Counts of days with maximum

temperature above 100 F,

• Counts of days with minimum temperature below 0 F,

• Counts of days with minimum temperature below 32 F,

• Total precipitation (inches), • Counts of days with precipitation

greater than 1 inch, • Counts of days with precipitation

greater than 2 inches, • Counts of days with precipitation

greater than 4 inches, • Growing season length (station

data only)

State Level Coordination

1. Engage Community

2. Identify CC impacts and targets

3. Complete Vulnerability Assessment

4. Prioritize Vulnerability

5. Take Action

Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP)

Climate MVP Communities: local impacts, local action

Empowering Communities & Informing Statewide Action

– Accessibility– Partnerships– Frame coordinated statewide efforts.

1. Engage Community

2. Identify CC impacts and targets

3. Complete Vulnerability Assessment

4. Prioritize Vulnerability

5. Take Action

DRAFT NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

DRAFT NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

1. Engage Community

2. Identify CC impacts and targets

3. Complete Vulnerability Assessment

4. Prioritize Vulnerability

5. Take Action

Integrated with A State Website

1. State website provides critical structure for process2. Provides climate data3. Provides geospatial data at the town level4. Runs vulnerability assessment 5. Connects to adaptation actions and grant opportunities6. Specifically designed for cities and towns

MA CLIMATE CHANGE CLEARINGHOUSE

Thank you