The US Govt released its latest impact assessment (fact sheet summary for all regions, here)
Climate Change Impacts
Northeast — Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
This region is experiencing increases in the frequency of extreme weather events and other climate-driven changes, including
- intense rainstorms,
- warmer ocean temperatures, and
- rapid sea level rise.
For example, the amount of rain that falls during the heaviest downpours has increased by approximately 60% in the Northeast since the 1950s—the largest increase in the United States. Many regional climate impacts, including extreme heat and flooding, disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color.
The region is responding with mitigation and adaptation efforts, such as the
- Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—a market-based program aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions;
- eight state laws requiring emissions reductions of at least 80% by 2050; and
- new financing options, such as grants, loans, or tax assessments, that improve the capacity of households, communities, and businesses to build climate resilience.
Cities, states, and Tribes are implementing climate action plans with innovative approaches that embrace inclusive and equitable processes. For example, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan was developed with multi-year civic engagement opportunities, focuses on benefits of climate action that improve equity, and tracks progress through annual reports. The city’s 2022 stormwater code requires any new development that could affect stormwater runoff to plan for projected increases in heavy rainfall under climate change, rather than building to historical rainfall amounts. Read more in Chapter 21: Northeast.
