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Cape Cod: In Harm’s Way. Climate Change and Environmental Justice. An Environmental Justice Presentation. by the Falmouth Clergy Association Produced by Odin Tidemand , Date: May 1, 2013. Who and Where We Are.
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Cape Cod: In Harm’s Way Climate Change and Environmental Justice
An Environmental Justice Presentation by the Falmouth Clergy Association Produced by Odin Tidemand, Date: May 1, 2013
Who and Where We Are "the bared and bended arm of Massachusetts ... boxing with Northeast storms.” -Henry David Thoreau Cape Cod (The Cape) is a 65 mile long island jutting out from the southeast coast of Massachusetts. • located between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay. • formed by climate change. Retreating glaciers deposited gravel, clay and sand • Technically, most of Cape Cod is considered to be barrier island since it is cut off from the mainland by the Cape Cod Canal • there are 215,000 year round residents, many of whom are retirees. • it has the oldest population in Massachusetts
C A P E C O D
Population and Land Use Changes • A major resort-Est.6,000,000 visitors per year, 4,000,000 between June 1 and September 30 • 1950 Population-36,800 • 2012 Population-215,800-of which 50% are over the age of 45 - Median age 49.9 years • 1951 Land Use • 9.5% residential • 1.5% commercial • 89.5% open or wooded • 1999 Land Use • 30.9% residential • 3.9% commercial • 1% industrial • 63.8% open or wooded
Effects of Climate Change on Cape Cod • Extreme Weather • Hurricanes • Nor’easters • Blizzards • Rising Sea Levels, Melting Polar Cap • Flooding • Beach Erosion • Health and Safety Problems • Mosquito Borne Illnesses • Tick Borne Illnesses • Extremes of Heat and Cold • Changes in Air and Water Quality
Hurricane 1938 Impact Falmouth Bourne
Vulnerable Groups Environmental Justice Advocates on Cape Cod are especially concerned about high risk groups. The list includes… • the very young and the very old • people with disabilities • low income people, homeless people • people not fluent in English • seasonal workers, tourists, immigrants
Extreme Weather Response • Preparedness Education • Guidelines distributed by local governments, NGOs, faith communities, local rescue organizations • Development of “Buddy Groups” • Organized by neighborhood groups, faith communities, social clubs, civic groups, senior centers, etc. • Community Wide Activities • Before the storm: Emergency preparedness, “consciousness raising” activities • During the storm: Shelter operations • After the storm: Disaster recovery, rebuilding communities, assisting refugees.
Nor’easter Nemo- February 2013 Falmouth High School Shelter
Faith Organizations and Disaster Relief-Hurricane Sandy Salvation Army Islamic Circle of North America
What can Faith Organizations do in Response to Climate Change? Religious Services • Beginning of hurricane season (June 1) service • Religious services to recognize and thank first responders, heath care workers, etc. • Mid-winter religious service • Memorial services, services for healing Religious services provide opportunities for reflection, consciousness raising, education, encouragement, grieving and healing, and saying “thank you”.
What can Faith Organizations do in Response to Climate Change? Emergency Preparations • Prepare emergency supplies for individuals, families and the entire congregation • Is your religious building ready to withstand an extreme weather event? Review insurance coverage and prepare for utility disruptions. • Do you have an emergency communications plan for your congregation? Who needs special attention? • Contact local emergency agencies to ask “how can we be helpful?” Move concerns from “me” to “we”.
What can Faith Organizations do in Response to Climate Change? After the Storm • Call members “Is everybody okay?” • Check with community agencies to see if assistance is needed • Contact national agencies, if appropriate
Rising Sea Levels Melting Polar Ice Flooding Beach Erosion Health and Safety
Effects of Rising Temperatures • Mosquito Borne Illnesses • West Nile Virus • Eastern Equine Encephalitis • Tick Borne Disease • Lyme Disease • Babesiosis • Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis • Impact on Fisheries • Shellfish Disease • Toxic Algae • Increased Water Acidity • Great White Shark invasion • Heat Related Illnesses, especially among children and elderly • Poor Air Quality and Respiratory Diseases
Energy Justice • All people, in all places, require an adequate supply of energy that is safe, affordable, and sustainable. • Energy use, like water use, is a human right.
Disabled and Special Needs People • Disabled people are especially vulnerable to Climate Change • Planning is paramount • Make certain shelters are ADA compliant • Will shelters accommodate your pets? • Shelter in Place • Do you have electricity to operate needed medical equipment? • Do you have adequate medications? • Is emergency medical treatment available? • Are you registered with your local government as disabled?
Conclusion Ask What You Can Do to Adapt to and help Minimize the effects of Climate Change • Educate • Organize • Prepare • Respond
Credits • Slide 1-photo Odin Tidemand • Slide4-MidWestRoots by Kyle • Slide 6-Woods Hole Research Center • Slides 7 and 8 Cape Cod Commission • Slide 10-NOAA • Slide 11-Risk Management Solutions • Slide12- Cape Cod Today • Slide 13-Boston Globe • Slide 15-US Census • Slide 16-NSTAR • Slide 17-Kingston Journal • Slide 19-Bob Murphy • Slide 20-Salvation Army, Islamic Circle of North America • Slide 21-Church World Service • Slide 22-The Unitarian Church Staten Island • Slide 27-GIS@Tufts, Bronwyn E. Cooke • Slide 29-WBUR.org • Slide 30-Commonwealth of MA, Department of Public Health • Slide 31-WBUR.org • Slide 32-energyjustice.net • Special thanks to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, Massachusetts and to the Sierra Club's Cape Cod and Islands Group for their assistance in developing this presentation.
