Maine Climate Council

About the Maine Climate Council

On June 26, 2019, Governor Janet Mills and Legislature created the Maine Climate Council, an assembly of scientists, industry leaders, bipartisan local and state officials, and engaged citizens to develop a four-year plan to address the impacts of climate change on Maine, build resiliency to climate effects, and meet state statutory targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan was delivered to Governor Mills on December 1, 2020. By law, the Council must deliver an updated plan by December 1, 2024.

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Maine Climate Council Members

Members are appointed by Governor Janet Mills.

Co-Chairs
  • Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
  • Melanie Loyzim, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection
Members of the State Legislature
  • Representative Christopher Kessler (D)
  • Representative Nathan Carlow (R)
  • Senator Stacy Brenner (D)
  • Senator Matt Harrington (R)
Members of the Executive Branch, or their designees
  • Amanda Beal, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
  • Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office
  • Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
  • Major General Doug Farnham, Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management
  • Kirsten Figueroa, Commissioner of the Department Administrative and Financial Services
  • Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the Department of Labor
  • Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Patrick Keliher, Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources
  • Pender Makin, Commissioner of the Department of Education
  • Bruce Van Note, Commissioner of the Department of Transportation
  • Jeanne Lambrew, Commissioner of Department of Health and Human Services
Members of Quasi-Government Agencies
  • Dan Brennan, Executive Director of the Maine State Housing Authority
  • Michael Stoddard, Executive Director of Efficiency Maine Trust
Members Representing Environmental Nonprofit Organizations or Foundations
  • Deborah Ellwood, President and CEO, Maine Community Foundation
  • Kate Dempsey, Maine State Director for The Nature Conservancy
Members with Expertise in Climate Change Science
  • Susie Arnold, Marine Scientist, Island Institute
  • Ivan Fernandez, Distinguished Professor at the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute & School of Forest Resources
Members with Expertise in Resilience, Climate Change Adaptation, Emergency Management, or Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Amy Landry, Executive Director of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments
  • Jay Kamm, Senior Planner, Northern Maine Development Commission
Other Members
  • Noël Bonam, AARP Maine
  • Jessie Perkins, Executive Director of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce
  • Expert on State’s Energy Sector: Ken Colburn
  • Representative of Maine’s Tribes: Ambassador Maulian Bryant, Penobscot Nation
  • Representative of Municipal Government: Gary Lamb, City Manager, City of Hallowell 
  • Representative of Small Business: Daniel Kleban, Owner of Maine Beer Company
  • Representative of Agriculture: Melissa Law, Owner of Bumbleroot Organic Farm in Windham
  • Representative of Building and Construction Trades: Matt Marks, Cornerstone Government Affairs
  • Representative of Manufacturing Industry: Jim Brooks, Environmental Manager for Sappi North America
  • Representative of Marine Fisheries: Bob Baines, Board Member, Maine Lobstermen’s Association
  • Representative of Large Business: Todd Bullen, Vice President of Retail Operations, Hannaford Supermarkets
  • Representative of Labor: Francis Eanes, Executive Director of the Maine Labor Climate Council
  • Representative of Forest Industry: Patrick Strauch, Executive Director of the Maine Forest Products Council
  • Representative of Maine Youth: Amara Ifeji, Maine Environmental Education Association

Working Groups & Subcommittees

Members are appointed by the co-chairs of the Maine Climate Council.

Buildings, Infrastructure and Housing

The Buildings, Infrastructure, and Housing Working Group will evaluate and recommend short- and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, infrastructure, and housing, as well as evaluate and recommend short- and long-term strategies and actions for adaptation and resiliency to climate change. 

Coastal and Marine

The Coastal and Marine Working Group will evaluate and recommend short- and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions from coastal and marine sectors, as well as evaluate and recommend short- and long-term strategies and actions for adaptation and resiliency to climate change.

Community Resilience

The Community Resilience Working Group will evaluate and recommend short- and long-term strategies and actions for adaptation and resiliency to climate change, as well as short- and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions. 

Energy

The Energy Working Group will evaluate and recommend short- and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions from Maine's energy sector, as well as evaluate and recommend short- and long-term strategies and actions for adaptation and resiliency to climate change.

Natural and Working Lands

The Natural and Working Lands Working Group will evaluate and recommend short- and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions from Maine's natural and working lands sectors, as well as evaluate and recommend short- and long-term strategies and actions for adaptation and resiliency to climate change. 

Transportation

The Transportation Working Group will evaluate and recommend short- and long-term mitigation strategies to reduce gross and net annual greenhouse gas emissions from Maine's transportation sector, as well as evaluate and recommend short- and long-term strategies and actions for adaptation and resiliency to climate change.

Scientific & Technical Subcommittee

The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STS) within the Council works “to identify, monitor, study and report out to the council and to the working groups...findings and recommendations related to climate change in the State and its effects on the State’s climate, species, marine and coastal environments and natural landscape and on the oceans and other bodies of water.”

Equity Subcommittee

The Equity Subcommittee of the Maine Climate Council will support ongoing planning and implementation of the state’s climate strategies to ensure shared benefits across diverse populations in Maine.

Climate Task Forces

Meeting Schedule

Please visit the GOPIF calendar for upcoming meetings, past meetings, meeting materials, and meeting recordings.

Maine Climate Science and Data

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