EBC of New England, Inc. Coastal Resiliency Program

Last night’s Environmental Business Council of New England, Inc. program featuring MA Chief Climate Resiliency Officer Deanna Moran was energizing and inspiring. It’s clear that the Commonwealth is pushing hard, not just on planning, but also on moving toward implementation — especially when it comes to coastal resiliency.

Here are a few thoughts & takeaways:

🔍 What’s exciting about the ResilientCoasts plan

- Data-driven approach: The plan compiles and analyzes coastal risk data to identify current and future coastal risk areas and creates planning areas based on geography and coastal typography. 

- Targeted solutions: By using spatial data, hazard modeling, and projections of future coastal risk, the plan will help prioritize where to use nature-based solutions (living shorelines, marsh restoration, etc.), engineered protection (bulkheads, seawalls, berms), retreat or relocation strategies, or combinations of all of the above.

⚙️Moving beyond planning toward implementation

One of the most encouraging parts of the program was hearing how the Commonwealth is starting to act — not just plan:

- The MassReady Act, along with other initiatives, shows a commitment to make resiliency real — funding, partnerships, and regulatory tools are being aligned to support resilience measures.

- Coordination between state agencies, local municipalities, and community stakeholders is being emphasized. This reduces duplication, facilitates alignment, and will help achieve the Commonwealth's goals.

🌱Why this matters

With sea-level rise no longer being a distant threat — but increasingly a lived reality — having an approach like ResilientCoasts that doesn’t just map risk, but also maps solutions, capacities, and implementation pathways, is essential. It can help protect homes, infrastructure, ecosystems, economies, and community health.

We're looking forward to seeing how the ResilientCoasts initiative will help shape real, timely projects on the ground — from shoreline ecosystem restoration to flood barriers to land use shifts. If the momentum continues, we are on a path to building a more resilient, equitable, and climate-prepared coastal Massachusetts.