New England State Climate Action Assessment Using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework

The report evaluates the climate action plans and policies of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework. It identifies a regional trend where mitigation and adaptation efforts remain siloed and equity goals are often articulated in policy but poorly implemented. Maine and Vermont are highlighted as regional leaders in alignment with the framework, while New Hampshire is noted for having an outdated plan and a lack of state leadership. The assessment reveals a widespread failure across all six states to account for maladaptation in their planning.

• Maine is identified as a regional leader in climate action, with its 'Maine Won’t Wait' plan aligning with 10 of 15 framework principles. The state is reportedly ahead of schedule to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, having already achieved a 25% reduction from 1990 levels.
• Vermont has significantly strengthened its climate policies since the 2020 Global Warming Solutions Act, utilizing a systems-thinking approach that coordinates mitigation and adaptation. The 2023 state budget allocated $216 million for climate priorities.
• Massachusetts demonstrates a gap between its ambitious policy goals and actual implementation. While it is a leader in mitigation—targeting a 50% carbon emission reduction by 2030—its adaptation efforts are often fragmented and driven by local rather than state action.
• Rhode Island focuses heavily on coastal adaptation due to its 400 miles of coastline, but its mitigation and adaptation efforts remain largely siloed. The state's 'Resilient Rhody' plan is criticized for being a generalized tool that lacks a comprehensive approach across government sectors.
• Connecticut is not currently on track to meet the emission reduction targets set by its 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act due to a lack of accountability and enforceability measures. The state also lacks a long-term vision, with some agencies only planning for sea-level rise through 2050 instead of 2100.
• New Hampshire is the least aligned with the Resilience Gap Framework among the New England states. Its 2009 Climate Action Plan is outdated and largely unused, and it is the only state in the region that has not adopted legislation to transition away from fossil fuels.
• A critical regional resilience gap is the near-total absence of consideration for maladaptation—actions that may inadvertently increase climate risk—across all six New England states.
• While most New England states have integrated equity and environmental justice language into their plans, there is a consistent failure in implementation. Funding for adaptation often flows through municipalities, which favors wealthier districts with more capacity to apply for grants.

APA

Israel, M., & Field, J. (2022). New England State Climate Action Assessment Using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/new-england-state-climate-action-assessment-full-report.pdf

Chicago

Israel, Miriam, and Jo Field. New England State Climate Action Assessment Using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2022. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/new-england-state-climate-action-assessment-full-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Israel |first1=Miriam |last2=Field |first2=Jo |title=New England State Climate Action Assessment Using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=August 2022 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/new-england-state-climate-action-assessment-full-report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{israel2022new, author = {Israel, Miriam and Field, Jo}, title = {{New England State Climate Action Assessment Using the UCS Resilience Gap Framework}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/new-england-state-climate-action-assessment-full-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }