What are the potential effects of climate change in Massachusetts?
Scientists have identified that our health, agriculture, water resources, forests, wildlife and coastal areas are vulnerable to the changes that global warming may bring. But projecting what the exact impacts will be over the 21st century remains very difficult. This is especially true when one asks how a local region will be affected. Below is some comprehensive research published by the US EPA describing potential impacts of climate change in Massachusetts. Public Health Temperature-related Illness Over the past fifty years, heat stress days and nights have increased in Boston (PfSR, 2001). Hotter temperatures mean more cases of heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke, as well as a higher death rate from other medical conditions. The sick, elderly, and young would be the most vulnerable. One study estimates for Boston that by 2050 heat-related deaths during a typical summer could increase 50%, bringing the total heat-related deaths per summer to over 150 (this does account full
