New climate report reveals many Massachusetts homes are vulnerable to flooding
34:25 Share

A new report finds Massachusetts storms have grown in frequency and severity since the early 1900s. The number of intense, two-day storms has increased by 74%) — and that means many homes are becoming more vulnerable to flooding.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is the health implication of this," said Dr. Gaurab Basu, co-director of the Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy at Cambridge Health Alliance. "Concern about water damage in homes that could cause mold, which of course will cause people to have serious allergies. We want our homes to be safe and protected, and so the idea that climate could impact the health of our children within our home is concerning."

And across New England, where many of the country’s oldest buildings are located, some cities have begun preparing for the worst of climate change — by picking up historic buildings and moving them).

"Look, we're going to make choices. Maybe it's not so important to save a [particular] historic house -- but maybe to save another one," said Beth Daley, editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S. "I think the emphasis should really be on changing FEMA and flood insurance laws... These kind of incentives need to be geared toward retreat or relocation."

But a United Nations panel says we can still keep the worst effects of climate change at bay, if industrialized countries can cooperate in cutting global greenhouse gasses in half by 2030.

Cabell Eames, political director of Better Future Project, told Under the Radar that Massachusetts is making significant progress against climate change: "We have the first Climate Chief in Massachusetts and I know she is working diligently with the state of Massachusetts... There's just so much good will out there and there's so much opportunity to build relationship with one another and build community, and I think that when we do that everything else will just fall into place."

A panel of experts discuss these stories and more for our Environmental News Roundtable.

GUESTS

Dr. Gaurab Basu, physician, co-director of the Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Health Equity Fellow at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Beth Daley, editor and general manager of The Conversation, U.S.

Cabell Eames, political director of Better Future Project, a Massachusetts-based grassroots climate action organization