Climate & Resiliency

Portsmouth's Climate Future

As a coastal community with climate hazards becoming ever more present, the City of Portsmouth is engaging its community and other stakeholders in developing “Portsmouth’s Climate Future.” This effort will culminate in an Action Plan that will identify and phase targeted greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, avoidance, and removals at the municipal and community levels, while simultaneously identifying effective adaptation measures to make the City more resilient against future climate change impacts. With much of the City’s most treasured resources and many infrastructure assets located along its historic waterfront and directly vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge, there is no time to wait. Portsmouth’s Climate Future will not only define and prioritize the actions needed from City staff and leadership, but will also call upon all those who live, work, and play in Portsmouth to make meaningful commitments to ensure it becomes a more climate friendly and resilient community for generations to come. 

Coastal Resilience Initiative

The City has completed a study focused on Portsmouth's vulnerability to Climate Change with a detailed focus on coastal storm surges and sea level rise. The findings and recomendations of this study, which looks at a number of adaptation strategies and recommendations for future adaptation actions, were incorporated into the City's Master Plan.

Historic Properties Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

The City has completed a Historic Resources Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan. This study incorporated results of the 2016 Downtown Historic Register District property inventory with the City’s 3-D Massing Model and the City’s property valuation database to develop an economic and cultural valuation of its historic properties. The project also focused on four target areas to evaluate the economic impact of flooding and sea-level rise in a variety of land uses and settings.

Sustainable City Initiative

Portsmouth decided as a community with the completion of the 2005 Master Plan to become more sustainable and ecologically friendly in order to safeguard it's future. With that mindset, the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee on Sustainable Practices advised the City Council to declare Portsmouth an Eco-Municipality. The City Council voted unanimously to declare Portsmouth an Eco-Municipality in 2007 and signed a resolution which fully acknowledges Portsmouth's commitment and desire to become more sustainable, and to do so uses four sustainability principles from The Natural Step by making thoughtful, insightful decisions that will benefit the community as a whole. 

Solar Landing Page

In partnership with Solsmart, the City is working to improve solar market conditions, making it faster, easier and more affordable for residents and businesses to install solar energy systems. Solar energy offers several benefits, including environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, cost saving on electricity, job creation in the renewable energy sector and increased energy independence through harnessing a renewable and abundant resource - the sun.