Beflast Free Library

Speaker Series: Climate Resilience: What's Going on in our Communities
2025-10-21 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Abbott Room
The second talk in the series:
What’s Going on in our Fishing Communities
Clea Harrelson, UMaine Anthropology PhD student will discuss her research on how communities connected to the lobster fishery are navigating social & environmental changes and potential paths forward for resilience.
This speaker series is presented by member organizations of the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition (WCCAC). Programs will take place in the Abbott Room with a Zoom Option.
Register for the Zoom link here
About the speaker:
Clea Harrelson is a PhD student in Anthropology and Environmental Policy at the University of Maine. She is from Tennessee and received her Bachelor’s degree from Colby College and her Master’s degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. Clea has broad experience in social science and science policy through work as a contractor for NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and her time as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow and Science Assistant at the National Science Foundation. Her research focuses on social resilience in the American lobster fishery across Maine and Canada and the ways in which resilience is defined in the context of the Anthropocene.

Speaker Series: What's Going on with Maine's Climate Action Plan
2025-11-18 18:30 - 20:00
Hilary Landfried, Climate Policy Advisor and Maine Climate Council Coordinator with the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, will give updates and discuss the will discuss the new guide to Maine’s Climate Action Plan and talk about the current implementation strategies.
This series is presented by member organizations of the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition (WCCAC). Programs will take place in the Abbott Room with a Zoom Option
Register for the Zoom link here

ZOOM ONLY: Speaker Series: Climate Resilience:What's Going on in our Communities
2025-12-02 18:30 - 20:00
What’s Going on with Maine’s Climate: Historical Trends & Future Projections for Resiliency Planning
Sean Birkel, Maine State Climatologist oversees the Maine Climate Office, and provides climate and weather information to Maine stakeholders to facilitate decision-making, policy, and planning. He will present about his findings.
This Program will take place on ZOOM only.
Register for the Zoom link here.
This series is presented by member organizations of the Waldo County Climate (WCCAC).
More info:
Maine’s Climate: Historical Trends & Future Projections for Resilience Planning
In this presentation, we will explore key aspects of Maine’s past and future-projected climate to inform resiliency efforts. Overall, Maine’s climate was warmed by about 3 degrees Fahrenheit, while annual precipitation has increased by about 6 inches. Warming winters affect snow duration, lake ice, and early spring hydrology, all of which have significant ecological and economic impacts. Warming worldwide has intensified the hydrologic cycle, which drives more extremes such as heavy rainfall that can cause impacts from runoff and localized flooding. Sea level along Maine’s coast has meanwhile risen by about 8 inches. Risks from flooding and erosion are increasing, especially during coastal storm events. The talk will conclude with highlighting a new statewide weather-monitoring network that will help improve local forecasts, while also providing high-quality data that will become climate records over time.
