A brand new worker inside the state’s Office of Coastal Zone Management will likely be tasked with figuring out the methods, funding sources, and regulatory framework to deal with the impacts of local weather change alongside Massachusetts’ 1,500-plus mile shoreline, Gov. Maura Healey introduced Tuesday.
Warning that local weather change “poses a very real threat to our coastal way of life,” Healey mentioned a state planning initiative dubbed “ResilientCoasts” led by the chief coastal resilience officer will assist put together communities for rising sea ranges and extra excessive storms.
“This is a matter of fiscal responsibility. Our coastal cities and towns have been weathering erosion, sea level rise, and extreme storms without a holistic state strategy,” Healey mentioned in a press release. “Homeowners, small businesses, and municipal governments deserve a regional approach to this problem.”
A job posting mentioned the chief coastal resilience officer is liable for implementing the insurance policies and program of the Office of Coastal Zone Management “as they relate to improving coastal resilience to natural coastal hazards along the commonwealth’s coast.”
The job was posted on Nov. 17, is probably eligible for a hybrid work schedule, and comes with a yearly wage of between $81,529 and $110,000, based on the posting.
Applicants will need to have 5 years of administration expertise; data of federal and state environmental legal guidelines, laws and insurance policies; data of local weather hazards to coastal areas; and coverage evaluation and growth abilities, amongst different issues.
Sea ranges may rise in Massachusetts by 2.5 toes by 2050 in comparison with 2008 if international emissions are “not significantly reduced,” the Healey administration mentioned. As flooding alongside the shoreline can be projected to extend, the statewide annual common damages to coastal constructions may stretch past $1 billion per 12 months by 2070, state officers mentioned.
Roughly $55 billion value of constructions are in-built Massachusetts inside the floodplain for a 100-year coastal storm — $40 billion is residential, $12 billion is industrial, and $2.5 billion is industrial, the Healey administration mentioned.
“The number of vulnerable infrastructure assets and anticipated loss will grow over time as rising seas expand the coastal floodplain,” the administration mentioned.
The Healey administration plans to stipulate new “coastal resilience districts,” or geographic areas that share related panorama and face related local weather dangers. The districts will likely be decided in 2024 so communities may help develop “tailored resilience policy and regulatory strategies,” the administration mentioned.
State officers will even decide whether or not dredging, “coastal nourishment,” roadway elevation, or managed retreats are essential to mitigate impacts of local weather change. Regulatory motion will deal with supporting “nature-based solutions,” streamlining allowing processes, and the consideration of future sea stage rise, the Healey administration mentioned.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper mentioned the state faces “some tough questions ahead” on coastal local weather change.
“Where will it be safe to build? How can we preserve our historical landmarks? What infrastructure will withstand ever worsening weather? We’re taking on some of the difficult aspects of coastal resiliency, and we’re doing it in partnership with municipalities, lawmakers, academics, and advocates to build consensus along the way,” Tepper mentioned in a press release.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”