CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND THE TOWN OF PAXTON Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program WHAT IS THE MVP PROGRAM? The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program is run by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). Communities that have been awarded an MVP Planning Grant are designated as a Climate Change MVP Community. The Planning Grant process focuses on: defining climate related hazards in the community; understanding how the community has been and will be impacted by climate change; identifying existing and future strengths and vulnerabilities as they relate to climate change; and
In 2019, the Town of Paxton received a Municipal
outlining action opportunities to increase resilience
Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Planning Grant. As a
and reduce the risk of climate change effects.
part of this grant, community stakeholders in Paxton
Over 80% of communities in Massachusetts have
participated in a Community Resilience Building (CRB)
participated in the MVP Planning Grant process.
workshop to discuss how climate change will impact
For more information, visit: https://www.mass.gov/ municipal-vulnerability-preparedness-mvp-program
the Town, identify strengths in Paxton relating to climate change, and prioritize actions that can be taken to increase community resilience in the face of climate change. The Town received extra funding to conduct outreach with Anna Maria College students.
HOW WILL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT PAXTON? As a result of climate change, Paxton can expect to see1: •
Over a 10% increase in the volume of annual rainfall by 2030, with almost 9 additional inches by 2090.
•
Longer periods of drought and more intense rainfall events.
•
Up to three weeks of extremely hot days over 90oF in the 2030s.
•
Two and a half months (basically a whole summer) over 90oF by the end of the century.
•
A shorter, milder winter, with a month fewer days under freezing by the 2030s and two months fewer days under freezing by the 2090s.
• Source: Mass Audubon, adapted from Union for Concerned Scientists 1
In a high emissions scenario, by the end of the century, Paxton’s weather will feel like North Carolina.
Climate data sourced from the Resilient MA: Climate Change Clearinghouse for the Commonwealth (http://resilientma.org/)
How do you think climate change will impact life at Anna Maria College? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts: At the workshop, participants identified the top four climate change hazards that could significantly impact Paxton:
Hotter School Days An increase in the number of days per year with temperatures over 90 degrees may impact campus
•
Wind
learning and living, especially in spaces without air
•
Extreme temperatures
conditioning, during the beginning and end of the
•
Snow and ice
school year. What would life look like at Anna Maria
•
Severe weather events
College with up to two more months of days above 90 degrees?
Sports and Recreational Activities In 2019, many Massachusetts communities faced the worst outbreak of mosquito-transmitted Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in decades. Communities across the state cancelled evening recreational and sports activities as a result. Outbreaks like this and from other vector-borne diseases may become increasingly common as a result of climate change
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ANNA MARIA COLLEGE? How do you think changes in precipitation and temperature will impact life at Anna Maria College? Here are a few examples to consider:
Commutes:
(warmer summer temperatures, milder winters, and increased precipitation). What would sports and recreational activities look like with increased prevalence of vector-borne disease?
Emergency Sheltering and Evacuation In the past, most notably in the 2008 ice storm, AMC has been called upon to serve as an emergency
A majority of graduate students and almost 40% of
shelter for students, townspeople, and residents
undergraduates live off-campus. As the frequency of
of neighboring communities. How would another
heavy precipitation events increases, commutes to
emergency event like this impact you, fellow students,
and from AMC may be impacted. How would your
and the faculty/staff of AMC?
commute/the way you get to AMC change as a result of more intense rain storms or other weather events?
WHAT CAN WE DO TO LIMIT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE? Throughout the MVP planning process, Town stakeholders identified a number of action items to help make the Town more resilient to hazards caused by climate change, including: •
Implement green infrastructure projects to improve water quality and manage stormwater throughout Town.
•
Build awareness of Town resources and educate residents on self-sufficiency and appropriate emergency response during hazard events.
•
Reach out to climate-vulnerable residents to find out what factors are most critical to ensuring that all citizens have the resources necessary to adapt to a changing climate.
PURSUE FUNDING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE GREEN EMERGENCY POWER EMERGENCY SHELTERS REACH OUT TO RESIDENTS WHAT CAN I DO? Hotter school days and impacts on commutes and sports/recreational activities are only a few examples of how life at AMC may be impacted by climate change. •
Can you think of any additional ways that campus life and your educational experience may be affected by climate change?
•
Are there any actions that students or AMC as a whole can take to increase campus resilience in the face of climate change?
•
Are there any actions that students, AMC, or the Town can take to adapt to changes in campus life and the educational experience that may occur as a result of climate change? Are there any initiatives already underway?
WHAT CAN I DO? Add your voice to the conversation by filling out a survey about your top concerns and priorities for climate resilience at AMC. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9FCYC23 Spread the word and talk to your fellow AMC students, faculty, and staff about their concerns. If you have any questions or comments about the findings of the MVP Planning Grant CRB workshop, please reach out to Paxton Town Administrator Carol Riches. criches@townofpaxton.net