The impact of climate change, both now and in the future, has been the subject of many Greenbelt Film & Lecture series events, including the 2020-2021 series funded by the MA Office of
Coastal Zone Mangement. Watch the video presentations from our archive.
The evidence of our changing climate is all around us. We may notice the impacts of drought in our streams, wetlands and wells; unusually early blooms in the garden; or more frequent
“king tides” that flood roadways and parking lots. Certainly, the natural world is showing signs of climate stress.
The northeast is experiencing a range of climate related impacts, but is particularly susceptible to sea level rise and flooding. Higher-than-average rates of sea level rise measured in the
Northeast have led to a 100%–200% increase in high tide flooding in some places, causing more persistent and frequent impacts over the last few decades.
Greenbelt partnered with Salem State University students and professor Stephen Young to host an exhibit highlighting the use of innovative mapping techniques, satellite imagery and other
climate data to show the future impact of sea level rise and storm surges in our region.
The Salem State University researchers showed how just a one-foot rise in sea level would bring flooding – ranging from minor to severe – to every coastal community in Essex
County.
In Essex, 27 percent of the town has been found to be at risk of coastal inundation.