By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board approved this week the establishment of a Climate Adaptation Committee and a Climate Adaptation Working Group “to strengthen the community and promote civic engagement through informed and coordinated policy development for climate change adaptation” at the request of Department of Climate Adaptation and Conservation Director Chris Krahforst.

The committee is charged with reviewing new climate change information and the town’s adaptation policies, projects, and future plans, to receive an annual progress report from the working group, and to provide feedback and input.

The overall goal is to discuss ways to mitigate the impacts of flooding and other consequences of climate change and sea level rise on the community and to further educate the public about these issues.

The committee will be comprised of members appointed by the select board, advisory board, conservation commission, council on aging, light board, planning board, and the permanent sewer commission.

The working group will convene quarterly, or more frequently as needed, to review adaptation implementation measures and current projects and planning and to integrate mid- and long-term planning for climate change impacts into hazard mitigation, emergency response, floodplain development, storm damage protection, and infrastructure repairs and improvements. The working group will report annually to the Committee on Climate Adaptation.

The working group will consist of department heads or appointees from the community development and planning and climate adaptation and conservation departments, the sewer department, building department, emergency management/Hull Fire Department, Hull Police Department, town management, the DPW, council on aging and light plant directors, and the school department. Their work will involve identifying capital projects and programs to address climate change/sea level rise and to develop strategies under Krahforst’s direction.

This work is supported by a Metropolitan Area Planning Council technical assistance grant.

“It’s important to have a structure in place to create a clearinghouse for our climate work and to set priorities,” Town Manager Philip Lemnios said at Wednesday’s select board meeting.

Last February during a conservation department presentation, Krahforst told the select board that it’s time to take seriously the current future potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on Hull.

Among the conservation department’s highest priorities, Krahforst said at that time, are Nantasket Beach and the dune system, maintaining the seawalls, nourishing the beach for enhanced protection, improving outreach and communication to Hull’s most vulnerable populations, and developing alternative energy sources for the town to address both resilience and the need for climate mitigation. Some of this work is already under way.

Lemnios noted as an example that a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant will fund a berm around the sewer treatment plant to help prevent flooding.

“There’s a recognition that there is an existential challenge to our community, and we need to coordinate a strategy,” he said.

Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable encouraged both groups to engage in public education and communication around climate resiliency issues.

“People are becoming more aware of sea level rise and the impact of [potential] category 4 hurricanes and wondering how to be prepared,” Constable said. “This is an important part of this work.”