Lisa Cline has been the executive director at the Hudson Valley Maritime Museum for seven years, and in that time, she says the Kingston waterfront’s flooding has gotten worse and worse.

“It’s very disconcerting and, of course, it’s really worrying to everyone who has a building on the waterfront," Cline said. "It’s clear that this is happening. It’s probably happening a little faster than anyone thought it would.”

She placed the blame on climate change, an issue the museum has an entire exhibit dedicated to informing visitors about.

Ulster County is looking to make an ambitious step toward combating climate change. County Executive Jen Metzger signed an executive order that would take several actions in trying to slow down its effects, including reducing county greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by the year 2050.

“Shifting to a green economy, really realizing all of the benefits of that shift in terms of job creation and public health," Metzger said. "And doing it in a way that’s equitable.”

The order makes Ulster County the first county in the state to comply with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The state law passed in 2019 outlines goals for New York state to meet to combat climate change.

Metzger said the goals are ambitious but realistic.

“The more we can become energy efficient and reduce our use and shift to clean energy technologies, the better off we’ll be," she said.

Cline said such action is necessary right now. Without it, she said the effects of climate change that she’s seen firsthand will only continue to get worse.

“We literally are witnessing right now what is going to change the Hudson Valley and every other coastal environment in this country and the world," she said. "So it’s very important for us to track this and talk about it as a historical event.”