impacts of climate change.
What climate change means for communities, artists, and the ecosystems we all depend on — and how we can get involved in the movement.
why this matters to us
Music is inseparable from the physical world. The forests that produce instrument wood, the communities that nurture musicians, the venues that shape sound — all of it exists within ecosystems that are changing faster than at any point in recorded human history. As an organization committed to community and to future generations, Palaver Strings takes this seriously.
We share this resource not to add to the noise, but to provide a grounded starting point for anyone who wants to understand what's happening and take meaningful action.
what the science says
The scientific consensus is unambiguous: global average temperatures have risen approximately 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. The consequences are already visible — more frequent and intense hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires; accelerating sea level rise; disruption to food systems; and displacement of communities worldwide.
In Maine and New England, impacts include: warmer winters threatening winter recreation economies and maple syrup production; ocean warming and acidification affecting fisheries that coastal communities depend on; more intense precipitation events; and increased Lyme disease and tick-borne illness as tick habitat expands.
the human dimension
Climate impacts fall disproportionately on communities that have contributed the least to the problem: low-income communities, communities of color, Indigenous peoples, and people in the Global South. This is not incidental. It reflects deep structural inequalities in who has power to pollute and who bears the cost.
Climate justice — the recognition that environmental and social justice are inseparable — is therefore central to any serious engagement with this crisis. We support organizations working at this intersection.
how you can get involved
Individual action matters, but systemic change requires collective action. Some places to start:
- Know your elected officials and their climate records at every level of government
- Support local and state climate legislation actively
- Reduce personal carbon footprint through energy, transportation, and diet choices — not as a substitute for systemic action, but alongside it
- Support BIPOC-led climate justice organizations
- Divest personal and institutional finances from fossil fuels where possible
- Show up: marches, town halls, public comment periods
read our climate statement
Our full organizational commitment to climate action and how it shapes our programming decisions.
Climate Statement →