Climate Change in Mass.

A series of stories -- published in 2017 -- examining the effects of climate change here in Massachusetts

The Atlantic Ocean laps at the feet of a condemned house on Seagull Drive on Nags Head Beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks. The house was part of a larger development of houses that have either been moved or have succumbed to the ocean. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

On North Carolina's Outer Banks, A Preview Of What Might Be In Store For Mass. Barrier Beaches

We look to the Outer Banks, where beaches and seaside homes are succumbing to the encroaching ocean, as a possible harbinger of what's to come for barrier beaches here in...

Local Coverage

08:08Aug 9, 2017

A view down Border Street in East Boston, where the Maverick Landing housing development abuts the Boston Harbor. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

City Plots A Series Of Defenses For East Boston's Coast

The city estimates that in 50 years, nearly half of East Boston's territory will be at risk during a major storm.

Local Coverage

06:56Aug 2, 2017

A kettle pond shoreline in the Cape Cod National Seashore (Courtesy CCNS)

Cape Cod's Kettle Ponds Are Showing Signs Of Climate Change

Of the Cape's waterways, kettle ponds may be showing the most visible signs of climate change.

Local Coverage

05:36Aug 2, 2017

The New Bedford seawall. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

New Bedford Hurricane Barrier: Not An 'Impermeable Line Of Defense' Against Climate Change

New Bedford is home to the longest hurricane barrier on the East Coast, but city leaders know the wall can only hold back the sea for so long. The sea...

Local Coverage

06:30Jul 26, 2017

The twin cooling towers at Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, Mass. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Analysis: Non-White Mass. Voters More Troubled By Climate Change Than White Voters

A recent WBUR poll shows non-white Mass. voters are even more concerned about the consequences of climate change than the state population as a whole -- and voters are already...

Local Coverage

02:49Jul 26, 2017

Several industrial sites are located on the Chelsea Creek. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

'Hit First And Worst': Region's Communities Of Color Brace For Climate Change Impacts

The consequences of climate change, experts say, will disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color.

Local Coverage

06:25Jul 26, 2017

Shannon Nangle and her colleagues at the Silver Lab at Harvard Medical School are working on a project that could one day help reduce a cause of global warming. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

'Bionic Leaf' Could One Day Help Reduce CO2 In The Atmosphere

A project at Harvard Medical School could one day help reduce a cause of global warming.

Local Coverage

04:36Jul 19, 2017

Dan and Harriet Tolpin's house on Plum Island Beach (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Signs Of Climate Change — Past, Present And Future — On Plum Island

The Plum Island shoreline is a case study in the complexities of human-caused climate change interacting locally with man-made structures and coastal development.

Local Coverage

07:24Jul 19, 2017

Biologist Richard Primack uses Henry David Thoreau’s records from his time living on Walden Pond to look for effects of climate change on area wildlife. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

How Thoreau Helped Make Walden Pond One Of The Best Places To Study Climate Change In The U.S.

We take a walk around Walden Pond with biologist Richard Primack, who uses Thoreau’s records to look for effects of climate change on area wildlife.

Local Coverage

06:35Jul 12, 2017

Members of NOAH’s Climate CARE Tree Program team stand by an oak tree on Lexington Street, the first tree planted during the project. From left: Michael Passariello, Jenn Pineda, NOAH Community Engagement Coordinator Melinda Vega, Gabriela Ramirez and Stephan Marin. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Youth Brigade Aims To Close Tree Canopy Gap In East Boston

The students mapped tree cover in their neighborhood. They calculated that Eastie sidewalks have just 15 percent of the ideal number of trees. Their goal is to double that.

Local Coverage

07:23Jul 5, 2017

The view down Second Street in Chelsea, where asphalt, cement, brick, metal and human activity all contribute to make this area an urban heat island (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

No Tropical Paradise: Urban 'Heat Islands' Are Hotbeds For Health Problems

Most of the city of Chelsea is a heat island, meaning temperatures are consistently hotter than average. For residents of these islands, health risks rise with the heat.

Local Coverage

06:41Jul 5, 2017

WBUR Poll Shows Big Jump In Concern About Climate Change And Its Effects

A new WBUR poll finds a dramatic progression in Massachusetts residents' worries about global warming and its effects.

Local Coverage

05:37Jun 28, 2017

Volunteers and ecologist Brooks Matthewson, left, examine a tree as they track the effects of climate change at Mount Auburn Cemetery. (Courtesy Jeanne Mooney)

Mount Auburn Cemetery Tree Trackers Gather Climate Data Amid Changing Beauty

Long known for its natural beauty and the Boston luminaries buried there, Mount Auburn Cemetery is now becoming a hot spot for "citizen scientists" who want to help track climate...

Local Coverage

04:59Jun 28, 2017

WBUR Poll Finds A Sharp Increase In Concern About Climate Change Among Mass. Voters

In 2015, 78 percent of Massachusetts voters said they believed the world was getting warmer. Today it's 88 percent -- and the public is coalescing around a cause.

Local Coverage

05:20Jun 28, 2017

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Climate Change in Mass.

On North Carolina's Outer Banks, A Preview Of What Might Be In Store For Mass. Barrier Beaches

Local Coverage

City Plots A Series Of Defenses For East Boston's Coast

Local Coverage

Cape Cod's Kettle Ponds Are Showing Signs Of Climate Change

Local Coverage

New Bedford Hurricane Barrier: Not An 'Impermeable Line Of Defense' Against Climate Change

Local Coverage

Analysis: Non-White Mass. Voters More Troubled By Climate Change Than White Voters

Local Coverage

'Hit First And Worst': Region's Communities Of Color Brace For Climate Change Impacts

Local Coverage

'Bionic Leaf' Could One Day Help Reduce CO2 In The Atmosphere

Local Coverage

Signs Of Climate Change — Past, Present And Future — On Plum Island

Local Coverage

How Thoreau Helped Make Walden Pond One Of The Best Places To Study Climate Change In The U.S.

Local Coverage

Youth Brigade Aims To Close Tree Canopy Gap In East Boston

Local Coverage

No Tropical Paradise: Urban 'Heat Islands' Are Hotbeds For Health Problems

Local Coverage

WBUR Poll Shows Big Jump In Concern About Climate Change And Its Effects

Local Coverage

Mount Auburn Cemetery Tree Trackers Gather Climate Data Amid Changing Beauty

Local Coverage

WBUR Poll Finds A Sharp Increase In Concern About Climate Change Among Mass. Voters

Local Coverage

Sections

Radio

Podcasts

CitySpace

Support

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On North Carolina's Outer Banks, A Preview Of What Might Be In Store For Mass. Barrier Beaches

City Plots A Series Of Defenses For East Boston's Coast

Cape Cod's Kettle Ponds Are Showing Signs Of Climate Change

New Bedford Hurricane Barrier: Not An 'Impermeable Line Of Defense' Against Climate Change

Analysis: Non-White Mass. Voters More Troubled By Climate Change Than White Voters

'Hit First And Worst': Region's Communities Of Color Brace For Climate Change Impacts

'Bionic Leaf' Could One Day Help Reduce CO2 In The Atmosphere

Signs Of Climate Change — Past, Present And Future — On Plum Island

How Thoreau Helped Make Walden Pond One Of The Best Places To Study Climate Change In The U.S.

Youth Brigade Aims To Close Tree Canopy Gap In East Boston

No Tropical Paradise: Urban 'Heat Islands' Are Hotbeds For Health Problems

WBUR Poll Shows Big Jump In Concern About Climate Change And Its Effects

Mount Auburn Cemetery Tree Trackers Gather Climate Data Amid Changing Beauty

WBUR Poll Finds A Sharp Increase In Concern About Climate Change Among Mass. Voters