Kennebunkport Climate Action Survey Results

Thank you for taking the Climate Action survey! Here's what you told us!

This spring, the Kennebunkport Climate Action Planning Taskforce put out a survey to better understand residents' concerns about climate change, interests in topics related to climate change, and preferred communication methods. 

The results of the survey have been compiled below:

Kennebunkport Climate Action Survey Results
May 2023

OVERALL RESULTS/DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The survey received 381 responses.

CONCERNS ABOUT CLIMATE

  • 77% of respondents were very or extremely concerned that climate change will affect Kennebunkport over the coming decades. This rose to 87% in the under-44 respondents.
  • The top two expected climate-related impacts are 1) effects on natural environment and 2) infrastructure, both at an over 80% level of concern.
  • Effects on the economy came in third at 56% and only one-third or respondents had any concerns about risk to municipal tax revenue, or challenges to providing public safety services.
  • Younger cohort levels of concern were 15%-20% higher – same topics/same order.
  • Fewer than 8% of respondent did “not expect to see any climate change-related impacts.” For younger cohort that dropped to 0%.
  • Three-quarters also reported that flooding, erosion, changes to the natural environment, and reduction in fish and lobster stocks were all items of high concern; 87% of younger respondents indicated high concern for the same.

HOW TO LEARN MORE

  • Kennebunkporters are interested in learning more about community solar, adding solar panels, and weatherizing their homes.
  • Younger respondents ranked access to carpools and rideshares significantly higher than older individuals, for whom it was of little interest.
  • Emails, town newsletters, websites rank most attractive for learning, along with talks from experts. Younger respondents ranked talks from experts the highest and big meetings higher than neighborhood events.
  • Overall, one-third would be interested in neighborhood gatherings, only one-fifth in large public meetings.