by Dr. Sarah Treanor Bois,
Published by Yesterday’s Island
Director of Research & Education at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation
In early September, the Coastal Resiliency Advisory Committee for Nantucket adopted September as Climate Change Awareness month, followed swiftly by a proclamation by Nantucket Select Board. What does that mean? As part of the proclamation, the Select Board “…encourages all residents to learn more about the threats of climate change and sea level rise and the planning efforts underway to increase community resilience.”
Designating September as Climate Change Awareness month isn’t just window dressing. There are multiple initiatives throughout this month to highlight the effects of climate change around the island and give Nantucketers opportunities to participate and learn more.
For many, climate change is an amorphous concept and find it difficult to think about how it directly affects our daily lives. It is both big in concept and timeline. But that doesn’t make the threat any less real. The effects of climate change will impact all aspects of life on Nantucket. Even those who live away from the shore will be affected by flooded streets, transportation on and off the island, economic impacts, recreation, and in countless other ways.
Multiple organizations and groups are using Climate Change Awareness month to educate the public about the potential effects of climate change through walks, talks, art, and more. Because we will see the effects of climate change in many forms, the education about the impacts similarly takes multiple angles.
The Town of Nantucket is currently reviewing applications for consultants to assist in creating the Coastal Resiliency plan for the TON. Once secured, the consultants will work with the Coastal Resiliency Advisory Committee (CRAC) to create an island-wide plan. The TON is also working on a Resilient Nantucket toolkit for adapting historic resources for sea level rise.