The Gulf of Maine Council’s Climate Network (CN) convenes leaders from Canadian federal and state agencies, US federal and state agencies, academics, tribes, and non-governmental groups in order to bring the latest climate science, impacts, and adaptation information to communities in the Gulf of Maine watershed.

The following are goals of the CN:

1. Provide climate information pertaining to the Gulf of Maine watershed to Gulf of Maine Council projects and participants;
2. Identify opportunities within the Gulf of Maine watershed for climate-related bi-lateral projects, including community resilience, information delivery, and outreach;
3. Coordinate with New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers’ efforts on climate-related issues;
4. Review, and when appropriate contribute to, emerging issues related to climate and its impacts on the Gulf of Maine.
5. Provide a bi-lateral discussion forum for topics linked to climate variability and change.

“Bilateral Coordination and Collaboration for Climate Service Delivery”
Climate Network Conference, September 10 – 11, 2013, Orono, Maine.
Sessions and presentations from the meeting are posted below.

Theme 1:  Climate and Land Use Change impacts to Gulf of Maine Watershed Forests and Wildlife, Implications for Management and Conservation

• The Impacts of Climate Change on Forests of the Northeastern United States and Canada (Lindsey Rustad, US Forest Service Northern Research Station)
• Case Study: Planning and Actions to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change Impacts on Forests – Examples from the Canadian Portion of the Gulf of Maine (James MacLellan, University of New Brunswick)
• Case Study: Planning and Actions to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change Impacts on Forests – Examples from the US Portion of the Gulf of Maine (Andrew Miliken, US Fish and Wildlife Service)
• Case Study: Planning and Actions to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change Impacts on Forests – Examples from the US Portion of the Gulf of Maine (Eric Walberg, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences)

Theme 2:  Extreme Events and Actions Taken in the Region (Ignite sessions)

The best available science tells us…

• US National Climate Assessment (Ellen Mecray, NOAA)
• Latest IPCC AR5 Model Outputs – General Changes and Some Extremes (Adam Fenech, UPEI)
• Case Study: Extreme Rainfall Events in New Brunswick (Rick Fleetwood, EC/METCanada)

Translating climate information to action means…

• Case Study: Decisions Before and After Hurricanes Irene and Sandy (Gina Campoli, VTrans)
• Case Study: Infrastructure Decisions Accounting for a Changing Sea Level (Adam Fenech, UPEI, for Patrick Mazerolle, DOT NB)
• Use of LIDAR for Flood Stricken Areas in Charlotte County, NB (Real Daigle, Director, R.J. Daigle Enviro – former EC)

Adaptive Management Actions / Approaches

• Case Study: Managing the Coastline for Frequent Extreme Events – Actions from New Brunswick ( Jeff Hoyt, NB)
• The Economics of Extreme Events, the Case for Action (Sherry Godlewski, NH)
• Case Study: Including Sea-level Change in Regulatory Frameworks and Municipal Planning (Kathy Baskin, MA)

Theme 3:  Marine Fisheries and Climate Change (Acidification)

• The 2012 Warming Event, Observations and Trends for the Future (Kevin Friedland, NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC)
• Warmer Temperatures, Molt Timing, and Lobster Fishing Seasons in the Canadian Maritimes (John Tremblay, DFO)
• The 2012 Ocean Heat Wave and Other Recent Climate Impacts to New England Lobsters: A Contrast of Economic and Biological Crises (Rick Wahle, University of Maine)