Climate Resources
Climate change, also called global warming, is very real and impacting the region now and will continue to for centuries. The main driver of such change is increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which traps heat from radiating back out into space. Carbon dioxide levels are now above what has occurred for at least the last 800,000 years.
Future effects of climate change will vary by location, but current effects are increased extreme rainstorms, which have jumped dramatically in the northeast in the last 20 years. This is one of the reasons that towns should be conservative in their flood regulations since the jump in storms is not reflected in outdated flood maps.
Projected Impacts to the region are expected to affect our climate, economy, the natural world, and human health as our climate shifts hundreds of miles southward in the best case scenario. Unless dramatic steps are taken to lower emissions, climate changes will be catastrophic. That is why towns should plan to take steps to lower emissions through land use planning that concentrates development, energy planning for increased generation of renewable energy, and transportation planning that increases walking, biking, and transit use, as well as changing over to electric vehicles. TRORC has assisted towns with all of these and will continue to do so. Just give us a call.
Staff Contact
Kevin Geiger – 802-457-3188 ext. 3003