BELFAST – On March 11, the Maine Conservation Voters hosted a free film screening of "The Age of Consequences", which investigates the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration, and conflict through the lens of US national security and global stability. The film was followed by a panel discussion featuring local legislators and community leaders at the Colonial Theatre.

"The stability of our economy and the future health and well-being of our children for generations to come will depend on our ability to confront the dangers of climate change and work together to protect Maine's environment," said House Majority Leader Erin Herbig.

While the film focused on the national and global impacts of climate change, the goal of the panel discussion was to highlight the need for immediate action and to discuss local, state, and federal level solutions.

"Why do I think it's important to be getting out there in the world of climate action," asked Josie Cowles, a student from Belfast. "Well, the planet is basically one giant house, and say if your home was burning down, would you stand by and let it happen? Or would you get up and get the fire extinguisher? The planet is in poor shape and I do not have any intention of sitting around letting it burn or melt away; I love getting up before the sun to watch it rise and hear the birds wake up too much."

Josie, age 14, met the staff of Maine Conservation Voters at their regular Coffee & Climate discussions in Belfast, and since then has traveled to Washington D.C. with the organization to talk to Maine's congressional delegation about proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency's budget and helped plan this evening's screening and panel. Her passion is touching, and reminded many about how their own love of the environment began.

"My love of Maine and deep connection to our heritage is what inspires me to act on climate," said Samantha Paradis, Mayor of Belfast. "Growing up hunting and fishing in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and working the annual potato harvests in the St. John Valley fostered my love for our environment from a young age. Now, as the moose population declines from vector-borne illness and the potato harvest is jeopardized by warming temperatures, it is clear that the time for action is now! I am proud that the City of Belfast has taken the lead on investing in renewable energy and hope that our work can motivate other municipalities to step up."

While Mayor Samantha Paradis' work to protect our environment in Belfast was inspired by her memories in the lakes, rivers, and woods of Maine, other panelists noted the equally worrisome effects that climate change is having on our coast.

"Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has caused the Gulf of Maine to become warmer and more acidic, and have more severe weather events resulting in more heavy precipitation and changes in salinity," said Richard Nelson, local lobsterman. "We have seen commercially valuable species such as cod and shrimp disappear from our region, as well as more anomalous and invasive species showing up. Research efforts are now underway trying to find out the full effects of acidifying waters on the entire range of the oceans food chain, from the smallest of creatures to the whales that rely on them for sustenance. The very lobsters I seek to harvest are finding their preferred habitat shifting towards cooler, deeper waters offshore and towards Canada. None of this bodes well for us as fishermen."

The effects of climate change that Nelson and other lobsterman and fisherman in Maine are already seeing will only get more serious – and more pervasive. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than any other ocean area in the world, so action needs to happen quickly to protect our fisheries economy and traditions.

"Maine has an opportunity right now to set an example for how to adapt and find climate solutions," said Representative Charlotte Warren (D-Hallowell). "Our communities are seeing the damaging effects of climate change firsthand: ocean acidification threatens our shellfish and impacts our economy, air pollution affects the poorest and most vulnerable among us, and extreme weather has significant implications for our iconic industries including maple syrup production and winter sports. It's time for lawmakers to come together to reduce climate-changing pollution by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources to ensure a clean energy future for Maine. "

At a time when the federal government is eliminating climate policies, moving backwards towards fossil fuel instead of clean energy, and pulling the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, local and state level action is more important than ever.