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Climate Change Overview

Plant

Climate refers to the long-term average temperature and weather conditions in a given area. Although Earth's climate has previously experienced changes, data shows that the average annual temperature has risen at a far faster rate since the Industrial Revolution than any other year on record largely due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

What's Going On? 

Why does it matter?

Increased greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from human activity has led to extreme temperatures and an increase in the number and intensity of extreme weather events. These climate changes impact people, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

​When sunlight passes through the atmosphere, it hits the Earth's surface and can either be reflected back out into space or absorbed by the Earth. When fossil fuels burn, they release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that act like a blanket trapping the sunlight. While this 'blanket' of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4), is necessary for life, too much build up of gases heats up the Earth's surface, changes the climate, and impacts life. 

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At the same time, human activities such as deforestation deplete Earth's natural ability to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As a result, we are seeing changing precipitation trends, melting glaciers, drought, wildfires, and so much more.

How is this happening?

Climate Change in Maine

Warmer, More Variable Temperatures

What we're already experiencing in Maine:​

  • ​Over 3° F increase in annual temperature

  • 2 week shorter Winter season

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By 2050, projections indicate:

  • 2 - 4° F increase in annual temperature 

  • 2-4 x more extreme heat days (above 90°F)

View Data

Changing Precipitation Patterns

Changes since 1895:

  • 15% increase in yearly precipitation

  • 20% decrease in snowfall 

  • More intense events - more rainfall in shorter periods of time

  • Increase in extreme weather events like the "polar vortex" and "bomb cyclones"

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By 2050, projections indicate:

  • 5% increase in precipitation

  • 50% decrease in snowpack

View Data

More Drought

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What we've already experienced:

  • 3 extreme droughts

  • 30% increase in wildfires​

  • Higher temperatures and changing precipitation patterns increasing risk of wildfires.​

View Data

Climate Impacts

Rt. 77 Bridge Crossing.PNG

Climate change impacts all areas of life from human health, to infrastructure, to the environment. Climate change can increase both the intensity and frequency of impacts but can also create new impacts in areas that didn't previously exist. The impacts listed below may result due to multiple hazards (i.e. warmer temperatures and increased precipitation), and are interconnected.

Human

Impacts

Pharmacists' hands

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  • Increase in heat-related illnesses​

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  • Increase in vector-borne diseases (i.e. Lyme)​

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  • Strain on the health care system​

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  • Worsening air pollution

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  • Degraded water quality

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  • Changes in food supply

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  • Contaminated groundwater

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  • Changes in property value

       and municipal tax base

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  • Harm to natural resource economy (fishing, agriculture)

Infrastructure
Impacts
Road

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  • Increased damage to buildings, roads, bridges, marinas.​

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  • Coastal and inland flooding.

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  • Coastal and inland erosion

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  • Disruption to emergency services and public transportation​​

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  • Strain on stormwater and wastewater systems

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  • Increased energy consumption

Ecosystem

Impacts

Fishing Float

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  • Agricultural shifts (i.e. longer growing seasons)

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  • Agriculture damage

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  • Changing groundwater levels and salt accumulation in soil

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  • Increased frequency of pest out breaks

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  • More invasive species

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  • Wildfires​​

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  • Shifting marine terrestrial ecosystems from invasives

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  • Increased ocean stratification

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  • Decline in ecosystem health - particularly shellfish

Social Vulnerability

Certain people and groups are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than others. This means people in the same town may experience climate change differently.

To view specific social vulnerabilities within New Gloucester, click here

Age and Health

Age and health affect the ability to control body temperature ​and maintain a healthy ​immune system, which ​make older and younger populations more prone ​to health-related climate impacts.​​ They also have an increased reliance on external support. 

Socioeconomic

Climate change could have a big impact on the economy by shifting jobs (particularly those in fishing and forestry) and tourism

Housing and Affordability

People living below the poverty line or somewhere unaffordable have less money and time to prepare for climate change or deal with climate disasters

Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are strongly correlated with disparities in health, exposure to environmental pollution, and vulnerability to natural hazards. 

To view New Gloucester's social vulnerability data, click here

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