Climate Change and Its Impacts

Jul 16, 2024

Climate Change Overview

Definition

  • Climate Change: Refers to long-term trends and changes, not day-to-day weather.
    • Examples: Shorter ice cover on lakes, warmer agricultural temperatures, longer summers, more frequent heat waves, flooding from severe storms.

Impacts on Community

  • Economy and Culture: Climate impacts the way we live and our local economy.
  • Winter Sports: Less ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing due to warmer winters.
  • Agriculture: Longer growing seasons, but more pests and diseases.
  • Health: Heat waves can harm vulnerable populations (elderly, young, those without access to cool places).
  • Infrastructure: Flooding can destroy homes, roads, and crops.

Adaptation

  • Definition: Adjusting our way of life based on climate impacts.
  • Examples of Adaptation:
    • Redesign stormwater systems to handle more water.
    • Plant trees and crops suited for longer, warmer growing seasons.
    • Plant vegetation to provide shade and keep water temperatures down in trout streams.
    • Develop heat emergency action plans for vulnerable people.
  • Short-term Benefits: Saves property, money, lives, and wildlife.

Mitigation

  • Definition: Reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases to reduce global warming.
  • Examples of Mitigation:
    • Driving and flying less.
    • Decreasing energy use.
    • Reducing consumption.
  • Scale of Effort: Must be performed on a large scale (individuals, communities, businesses, states, countries, globally).