Toni Lyn Morelli Presents on New England's Climate and Energy Future

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Dr. Toni Lyn Morelli, adjunct assistant professor in the College of Natural Science's Department of Environmental Conservation and a research ecologist at the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, recently traveled to the Anne T. Dunphy School in Williamsburg, MA to launch the first in a four-part forum series sponsored by Indivisible Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Energy Committee entitled "Our Climate and Energy Future." The opening session explored the projected impacts of climate change on New England. The Daily Hampshire Gazette was in attendance to report on Morelli's presentation:

“'You can think about what it means to have a lot of rain in the winter. It’s miserable. I commute a lot, and there is a big difference between 31 degrees and 33 degrees when you’re outside and it’s precipitating. Like it’s miserable to be out in 33 degree rain' but 'kind of wonderful' to be out in freezing point snow, [Morelli] reflected, also mentioning the slippery driveways that will result.

“'In Massachusetts and in New England in general, winter is really important. It’s just part of our cultural identity, and it is warming fastest in winter,' she said. 'When I think about the loss of snow, I think about our kids and grand kids, and not being able to do this in Massachusetts for much longer.'”

— The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Morelli argued that "the future of the climate in the Northeast will be one with increasingly high temperatures and more intense precipitation, with less biodiversity, poison ivy, ticks, and invasive species." She concluded with actions we can all take, and recommended the book Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe.

Click here to read about the forum in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.