Harvey. Irma. Maria. Nate. Last year, during a 45-day period, eight consecutive named storms strengthened into hurricanes. All told, the 2017 hurricane season was the most expensive in history, causing more than $200 billion in damage nationwide. Meanwhile, so-called 100-year floods are becoming so common the metric is losing its meaning and utility. For instance,…
May 14
2018
2018
Feb 6
2018
2018
Building for the Climate of the Future
Barely a month ago, a historic storm blasted coastal New England – a “bomb cyclone” that brought blizzard conditions, heavy snow, and massive flooding to Boston’s Seaport neighborhood and other waterfront communities like Chelsea and Salem. As the storm raged, Twitter and Facebook feeds filled with a barrage of images showing icy waters flowing down…
Jan 30
2018
2018
Climate Adaptation and Liability: A Legal Primer and Workshop Summary
Climate change impacts are affecting New England communities now, so CLF set out to determine the liability risks of government entities and other decision makers if they fail to prepare for these impacts. The result is the CLF Climate Adaptation and Liability report, which looks at the theories of legal liability for design professionals (such as…
Jan 30
2018
2018
Rising Seas, Rising Standards of Care
In 2013, a two-day downpour struck the Chicago area, causing massive flooding, overflowing sewers, and millions of dollars in property damage. After the clean-up, Farmers Insurance company filed a landmark class action lawsuit against the Water Reclamation District for greater Chicago on behalf of its policyholders and other property insurance companies affected by the flooding.…
Dec 19
2017
2017
Massachusetts Takes Critical Step Towards Climate-Resilient Utilities
Massachusetts is once again leading the way on climate by requiring its largest electric company, Eversource, to make sure its substations, poles, wires, and operations are ready for the worst that our changing climate might bring.
May 11
2017
2017
Proposed Legislation Would Help Massachusetts Communities Prepare for Climate Change Impacts
Tackling the root causes of climate change by cleaning up our energy supply and making our homes, businesses, and cars cleaner and greener is critical in averting the worst impacts our changing climate will bring. But it’s not enough. We need to brace for the climate impacts already in motion by making our communities across…
Feb 28
2017
2017
Resiliency in the Face of the Coming Storm
New Hampshire communities are already acting to adapt to climate change.
Feb 28
2017
2017
Boston Harbor 2.0
The New Frontier in the Fight to Save Boston Harbor When CLF launched its 1983 lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for dumping toxic sludge and untreated wastewater into Boston Harbor, years of neglect by the federal government, the state, the city, and polluters had turned the harbor into a shameful liability. But over time,…
Feb 13
2017
2017
Avoiding Septic Shock
This white paper addresses whether states in New England are adequately addressing the issues presented by climate change in septic system regulation.
Jan 26
2016
2016
Update: Massachusetts’ Senate Passes Climate Adaptation Management Plan
The Massachusetts Senate is voting on a climate adaptation plan that will help our communities prepare for climate impacts. Find out why this bill is important and how you can help get it passed.