4 days ago “I’d say the big difference between the last report and this one is we’ve actually experienced the impact of some of that weather now,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell, referring to storms in 2018 that caused severe flash flooding across the state. The report uses a worst-case scenario climate model, with no assumed solutions, to make its projections. Increases are compared to a baseline period measured from 1971 to 2000. McDonnell said by using that model, it gives the state an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the projected outcomes by pursuing greenhouse gas reduction policies.