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.

Impacts and Drivers of “Sou’easter” Extratropical Cyclones

We are partnering with the National Weather Service to examine the atmospheric circulation patterns and storm tracks associated with sou’easters, as well as their impacts …
Climate Vulnerability Assessments

We conduct vulnerability assessments in collaboration with communities that seek to explore, understand, and document how climate change affects them.
Assessing Coastal Flood Risk with Maine Communities

To understand what water level and weather conditions lead to local flooding, we’re expanding Maine’s network of tide gauges and pairing that data with community …
Coastal Erosion and Indigenous Resilience

Rising seas and eroding shorelines pose a growing threat to Indigenous lands and lifeways. This work supports tribal efforts to document and respond to coastal …
Climate Finance Resource Hub

Our Climate Financing Program is designed to help communities overcome the financial barriers to climate action. Whether supporting disaster recovery, or enabling proactive investments in …
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

Tremont's Quest for Resilience in a Changing Climate

Read on to learn more about what it takes to ensure coastal communities continue to thrive in a warmer world, and to see the role …

Perspectives
National Climate Assessment Contributions

In late 2023, four scientists from Maine played significant roles in shaping The Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5).

Tidings
Findings from the Field: A Research Symposium for Student Scientists - NASA Science

Within the scientific community, peer review has become the process norm for which an author’s research or ideas undergo careful examination by other experts

Press Clips
Gulf of Maine, Explained: Storms and Coastal Flooding

In this edition of Gulf of Maine, Explained, GMRI Postdoctoral Researcher and coastal hazards expert Dr. Hannah Baranes talks about how we can use the …

Gulf of Maine, Explained

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

By 2030, we aim to achieve:

Building Climate-Ready Communities Work

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