In early October 2006, the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA), a collaboration between the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and a team of independent scientists, released the findings of a two-year study, Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast.
The report indicates that without substantial measures taken to curtail heat-trapping emissions in the Northeast, global warming will substantially affect the Northeast's climate and quality of life. For more information on the study and to read the full report, visit www.climatechoices.org/ne.
What is the AMC Doing About Climate Change?
AMC is focusing a great deal of its research and conservation policy work on climate change, which poses significant threats to alpine ecosystems and outdoor recreation in our region. Changing climatic conditions can alter the timing and intensity of our fall foliage and impact snowfall and winter sports, both important contributors to the region’s economy and our way of life. The combustion of fossil fuels, which is the main human activity contributing to climate change, also contributes to air pollution, ground-level ozone and haze, which impact hiker health and the quality of the outdoor experience.
AMC’s work on climate change includes conducting scientific research on alpine communities and educating the hiking community about the impacts of climate change on mountain environments. AMC’s initiatives in this area include:
- Air Quality and Climate Research: AMC researchers, in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire and Mount Washington Observatory, are assessing climate and air pollutant trends and their influence on New England’s high-elevation alpine ecosystems. This work, which is supported by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), builds on our long-term air quality and alpine ecosystem monitoring. The AMC uses its scientific research to inform its positions on environmental policy, and it shares its findings with the public to help create a broad awareness of natural resource conservation issues. ·
- Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI): AMC strongly supports this effort by seven Northeastern states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region, an important first step toward addressing climate change. AMC encourages state regulators and policy makers to adopt strong and meaningful final RGGI provisions by December 2007. Stay up to date on RGGI activity in your state by joining AMC’s Conservation Action Network.
- Mountain Watch: This AMC citizen-science program involves hikers in environmental monitoring and tracking environmental trends. Mountain Watch volunteers perform such activities as documenting the timing of alpine flower blooms in spring and the onset and duration of fall foliage color change in the mountains. With the assistance of citizen-scientists, AMC is building a long-term database of plant activity. These data are correlated with weather information and, over time, will be analyzed for trends. AMC intends to maintain this database indefinitely. Findings are posted on the Mountain Watch section of our website.
- Carbon Footprint: AMC has been evaluating its own carbon emissions through an internal audit. We will be sharing our findings and our plan to reduce our organization’s carbon emissions. AMC has also been sharing green tips with its members and advocates online.
- Sustainable Operations: The AMC has a long-standing commitment to using its huts, lodges and sporting camps as models for sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. These policies are designed to both reduce our environmental impact and provide an opportunity for guests to learn how to practice conservation at home. Learn more about AMC's Green Promise, our commitment to sustainable operations.
