Oct 29: A report released by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) indicates that to combat the impacts of rising temperatures caused by global warming, communities across the Great Lakes region have begun putting in place strategies to protect people, wildlife and the Lakes themselves. Melinda Koslow, regional campaign manager of NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center said, "Rising temperatures and more severe storms are already having profound impacts on people, wildlife and communities. For the first time, we are seeing communities adopting innovative strategies to safeguard from climate change our economy, public health, quality of life and natural resources like the Great Lakes."
The report, Improving the Odds: Using Climate-Readiness to Reduce the Impacts of Climate Change on the Great Lakes Ecosystem, documents the efforts of cities, businesses, scientists and resource managers to craft strategies to adapt to rising temperatures. Koslow said, "Being ready for effects of climate change is emerging as the next step for Great Lakes protection. Confronting climate change will require the nation to enact a clean energy plan that reduces global warming pollution, but there is more to the story: We need to help the Great Lakes and our communities adapt to the changes in climate we're already experiencing and that will get worse."
The report chronicles a diverse set of case studies -- from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, where safety issues from thinning ice on the seasonal Madeline Island Ice Road over Lake Superior will require the implementation of a public warning system and emergency plan, to Milwaukee, WI, where city managers, scientists and public health managers are collaborating to update the city's sewer system based on the impact different climate and weather scenarios will have on the system. The report notes that while cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Quebec City, Canada, have crafted city-wide adaptation plans, more needs to be done. The report calls for the widespread adoption of so-called "climate-ready" strategies.
Access a release from NWF and link to the complete 60-page report (click here).
The report, Improving the Odds: Using Climate-Readiness to Reduce the Impacts of Climate Change on the Great Lakes Ecosystem, documents the efforts of cities, businesses, scientists and resource managers to craft strategies to adapt to rising temperatures. Koslow said, "Being ready for effects of climate change is emerging as the next step for Great Lakes protection. Confronting climate change will require the nation to enact a clean energy plan that reduces global warming pollution, but there is more to the story: We need to help the Great Lakes and our communities adapt to the changes in climate we're already experiencing and that will get worse."
The report chronicles a diverse set of case studies -- from the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, where safety issues from thinning ice on the seasonal Madeline Island Ice Road over Lake Superior will require the implementation of a public warning system and emergency plan, to Milwaukee, WI, where city managers, scientists and public health managers are collaborating to update the city's sewer system based on the impact different climate and weather scenarios will have on the system. The report notes that while cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Quebec City, Canada, have crafted city-wide adaptation plans, more needs to be done. The report calls for the widespread adoption of so-called "climate-ready" strategies.
Access a release from NWF and link to the complete 60-page report (click here).
