Getting Started

heroic efforts of fishermen at their daily work, hauling in an abundant catch of herring. In a small dory, two figures loom large against the mist on the horizon, through which the sails of the mother schooners are dimly visible. While one fisherman hauls in the netted and glistening herring, the other unloads the catch. — The Herring Net, 1885, Winslow Homer

The Climate Action Tool (CAT) is here for you!

If you are a planner, a manager, a conservation practitioner, a researcher, a student in the environmental field, or just a person interested in easy access to the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems in the northeastern U.S., you’re in the right place. Climate change is affecting the economic, natural, and cultural resources of the Northeastern U.S. We help you find ways to take action on climate change challenges near you.

On the CAT website, you will find information about how climate change is affecting the Northeast, focused on:

Particular Stressors, like extreme events Droughts, Storms and floods,
Impacts on Habitats, including Forests, Wetlands, and Coastal Ecosystems and
Impacts on Species, including Birds, Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles
Resources for Planning, Adaptation, and Communication & Engagement.

We have also:

Summarized all of the existing vulnerability assessments related to the 382 regional species of greatest conservation need for the Northeast.
Highlighted examples and case studies to show how colleagues and neighbors in the region are incorporating climate science into their goals, strategies, tactics, and day-to-day actions.

The CAT was first developed in 2012, and is newly updated as of 2026. Learn more About Us