Maine Climate Council Recommendations Show Some Progress But Need to Be Bolder

PORTLAND, ME. – Recently, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council released its 2024 Scientific Assessment of Climate Change and Its Effects in Maine.  At the same time, the Maine Climate Council received recommendations from all of its working groups on how to meet our mandated emissions-reduction targets for the next four years. 

According to the Study:

• Maine temperatures are projected to increase 2–4°F  by 2050 and up to 10°F by 2100. 
• Maine sea levels are 7.5 inches higher than in early 20th century Maine. The rate of sea level rise has nearly doubled in the past 30 years. 
• The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 97% of the world’s ocean surface and is experiencing near-constant ocean heat waves.

As a Result of these Climate Changes:

• Maine homeowners will see the second-largest home insurance rate increase in the U.S. this year.
• Low-income and rural Maine residents may experience increased housing insecurity due to high fuel costs, high electricity costs, and increased climate migration to Maine.
• Maine’s 2022 lobster harvest declined by 26% in volume from its historic high in 2016.
• The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife added eight new wildlife species to the State List of Endangered and Threatened Species in 2023.

Aspects of the Working Groups recommendations are a good start, as is the focus on the intersections of the groups. Sierra Club Maine enjoyed participating formally in the 30x30 subcommittee of the Natural & Working Lands group and the Buildings, Infrastructure, and Housing Working Group. Still, the Working Groups must do more equity work before the Climate Council votes on the next four-year Climate Action Plan, per the Equity Report.

“Instead of prioritizing the industries that dominate these processes, policymakers need to make an effort to create an accessible process,” said Nyalat Biliew, Grassroots Organizer. “This process must include useful resources such as the commission on race and tribal relations to ensure the participation of underserved communities.” 

Sierra Club Maine Is Particularly Concerned That: 

• Contrary to the Climate Law, the Transportation Working Group’s recommendations essentially give up on reducing emissions from that sector and try to have other sectors make up the difference.
• The process to ensure equitable access and participation from all Mainers was changed, restructured, and kept undewraps for sometime.
• Using "climate-friendly" practices while still expanding roads is contradictory. Maine should stop highway expansion, including the Gorham Highway, and try other transit methods and land use planning before adding more roads.

“Overall, these recommendations ‘consider’ and ‘explore’ too much,” said Matt Cannon, State Conservation & Energy Director. “Maine needs more than studies and incremental progress. To improve our health, reduce consumer costs, and cut emissions, we must set, meet, and surpass bold climate goals. Maine must create the economic reality needed to ensure all recommendations are adopted and more. Thankfully, the federal government has supplied additional funds to do just that. This is a monumental shift to a clean energy economy, one with all life at stake, one we can surely accomplish together.”