How Science is Informing the Creation of Maine’s New Climate Action Plan

Abstract:

The State of Maine set ambitious greenhouse gas reductions and climate adaptation and resilience goals in 2019 and established the Maine Climate Council to propose a new Maine Climate Action Plan by December 1, 2020. Over 230 scientists, industry leaders, bipartisan local and state officials, and engaged citizens began work in September 2019 to develop a four-year plan due to the Maine Legislature in December 2020, putting Maine on a trajectory to reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and at least 80% by 2050. By Executive Order of Governor Janet Mills, the state must also achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The process of creating a new Maine Climate Action Plan is being built on a strong scientific framework encompassing multiple sectors across six working groups: (1) Buildings, Infrastructure, and Housing; (2) Coastal and Marine; (3) Community Resilience Planning, Public Health, and Emergency Management; (4) Energy; (5) Natural and Working Lands; and (6) Transportation. The Maine Climate Council’s 28 member Scientific and Technical Subcommittee have developed a comprehensive assessment of climate change indicators and impacts and an initial statewide forest and soil carbon budget for Maine that has guided the development of working group recommendations and supports ongoing deliberations of the 39 member Maine Climate Council charged with writing the 2020 plan. In addition, the Maine Climate Council is utilizing social science and economic analyses of greenhouse gas modelling, the costs and benefits of potential climate strategies, social vulnerabilities to climate change impacts around the state, and how to strengthen equity consideration within climate strategies. We will provide an overview of the state climate action planning process, lessons learned from this first round of a 4-year cycle of planning, and discuss the central role that science is playing in the writing of the new Maine Climate Action Plan, the first such integrated plan for the state that is science-informed and encompasses both mitigation and adaptation.