CR 14:261-269 (2000) - doi:10.3354/cr014261

Preliminary findings from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Assessment

Ann Fisher*

Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA

²Fisher et al. (2000) list 4 questions guiding the MARA: (1) What are the region¹s current environmental stresses and issues that provide context for impacts from climate change? (2) How could climate change and variability exacerbate or ameliorate these stresses, or create new ones? (3) What actions could increase the region¹s resiliency to climate variability, reducing negative impacts and taking advantage of opportunities created by climate change? and (4) What are the short-term and long-term priorities for new information and research to better answer questions (1) and (2) and to evaluate adaptation options?

ABSTRACT: This paper summarizes (1) the major positive and negative climate change impacts likely in the Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR), (2) options to make the MAR more resilient to climate change, and (3) priorities for improving such regional assessments. Major findings include: (1) the MAR economy is likely to be reasonably resilient to a somewhat warmer, wetter climate, although there could be substantial impacts on the region¹s ecosystems and some people will gain while others lose because of climate change; and (2) many cost-effective actions could be taken now to protect and enhance the quality of life in the MAR that would have side benefits of reducing vulnerability to climate variability and change.

KEY WORDS: Climate change impacts · Regional assessment · Assessment results

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