Climate & Sustainability Plan

The Town of Nantucket is developing its first Climate Action Plan. Climate decisions affect housing, the economy, and community life as much as the environment, so the Town is pairing that work with a Sustainability Plan that weighs social, environmental, and economic needs together. The combined effort is called the Nantucket Climate and Sustainability Plan (CSP).

Why it matters here

Thirty miles out to sea, Nantucket is one of the communities in Massachusetts most exposed to rising seas and stronger storms. Severe winter storms regularly damage the shoreline and local infrastructure. High-tide flooding on sunny days is becoming more common, and the island has some of the highest erosion rates in the state. Much of the Town's essential infrastructure sits in the coastal flood zone, including the downtown district and the island's only passenger and freight ferry terminals. That downtown is also central to Nantucket's status as a National Historic Landmark and to the tourism economy that depends on it.

These pressures overlap with others. The island is also dealing with development pressure, fast-growing peak energy demand, and a shortage of affordable housing. Unlike mainland towns, Nantucket can't rely on its neighbors for shelter, supplies, or support when something goes wrong, so each of these impacts hits harder. The Town's 2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan and 2021 Coastal Resilience Plan documented many of these vulnerabilities, and the CSP builds on that work.

Where things stand

In September 2026, the Town began developing the CSP with Eastern Research Group (ERG). The plan was launched publicly at the Island Fair as the first step in a community-driven process. When it's finished, it will give Nantucket a roadmap for reducing emissions, strengthening resilience, and setting practical sustainability goals.