Improve Climate Resilience in Maine!

UPDATE: VICTORY

On April 22nd, 2025, Governor Mills signed LD 1, landmark legislation she introduced with bipartisan legislative leadership to improve how Maine communities, homeowners, businesses, and emergency responders can prepare for, and ultimately withstand, the effects of severe storms.

This is an amazing step for the state of Maine to protect our coasts and climate and respond to coastal erosion. 

The Surfrider Foundation Maine chapter supports the passage of L.D. 1, An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, Homes, and Infrastructure. 

Mariel Geiger, the chapter's Climate Action Chair and Policy Lead, submitted testimony for the public hearing on 2/27/2025.

Maine’s coastal communities are on the frontlines of climate change. Rising sea levels, worsening storm surges, and more frequent flooding events are eroding shorelines, threatening marine ecosystems, and putting homes, businesses, and infrastructure at risk.

L.D. 1 provides real, actionable solutions by:

• Helping homeowners make climate-resilient improvements to protect their properties,
• Strengthening MEMA’s emergency response capabilities,
• Creating a State Resilience Office to coordinate flood mitigation efforts, and
• Establishing the Flood-Ready Maine Program to modernize and share crucial flood risk data.

This legislation aligns with Surfrider’s mission to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches, ensuring that Maine’s coastal and inland communities are better prepared for the extreme weather events we know are coming. By investing in proactive resilience measures now, we can reduce future recovery costs, protect Maine’s tourism and fishing economies, and preserve our state’s natural beauty for future generations.

To get involved with this campaign, please email climate@maine.surfrider.org