Stay Cool, Groton!

Let's talk about heat...

Global temperatures are rising due to climate change. June 2023 was the warmest June ever recorded, and Earth's hottest days on record were July 3-5, 2023.

Although Groton is not as warm as other regions of the country or world, temperatures are still rising at an unprecedented rate. Heat can have numerous dangerous impacts, from causing heat-related illness, to destroying roads and bridges, to inducing power outages. Furthermore, heat is a social justice issue that disproportionately impacts people like older adults, athletes, outdoor workers, etc. Explore the resources on the right side of this page to learn more. You can also view state-wide heat vulnerability maps created by the Connecticut Institute for Climate Resilience and Adaptation (CIRCA) here.

The Town of Groton engaged in heat action planning to protect residents from negative heat impacts in the summer of 2023 in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute Fellowship Program. Clare McCarthy, the summer fellow who worked with the town, conducted extensive research and public outreach to learn about this issue and how it is impacting our community. The sections on the right-hand side of this page share materials Clare developed, including infographics, public meeting slides, and an executive summary report that summarizes the results of her work.