Wyoming

Global climate change poses risks to human health and to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Important economic resources such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and water resources also may be affected. Warmer temperatures, more severe droughts and floods, and sea level rise could have a wide range of impacts. All these stresses can add to existing stresses on resources caused by other influences such as population growth, land-use changes, and pollution.

Climate Change in Wyoming

Below are some of the potential impacts:

• Over the last century, the average temperature in Laramie, Wyoming, has increased 1.5°F, and precipitation has decreased by up to 20% in many parts of the state.
• Over the next century, climate in Wyoming may change even more. By 2100 temperatures could increase by 4°F in spring and fall, 5°F in summer, and 6°F in winter. Precipitation is estimated to decrease slightly in summer, in crease by 10% in spring and fall, and in crease by 30% in winter.
• Winter snow accumulation and spring snowmelt strongly affect many of Wyoming’s rivers. A warmer climate could result in less winter snowfall, more winter rain, and faster, earlier spring snow melt. In the summer, without increases in rainfall of at least 15-20%, higher temperatures and increased evaporation could lower stream flows and lake levels. Less water would be available to support irrigation, hydropower generation, public supply, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and mining. Competition for water could increase on the plains, where agricultural and industrial users compete for available water.
• Similarly, in northeastern Wyoming, which has large deposits of minerals, coal, and petroleum, competition between mining, energy, and other users could intensify for the meager summer stream flows. Higher temperatures and lower flows could impair water quality by concentrating pollutants and reducing assimilative capacity.
• In Wyoming, production agriculture is an $800 million annual industry, 80% of which comes from livestock, mainly cattle. Almost 70% of the farmed acres are irrigated. The major crops in the state are wheat and hay. Climate change could increase wheat yields by 35-48%. Hay and pasture dry land yields could fall by 13% or rise by 12% with irrigation, depending on how climate changes and whether irrigation is used. Livestock production may not be affected, unless summer temperatures rise significantly and conditions become significantly drier. Under these conditions, livestock tend to gain less weight and pasture yields decline, limiting forage.
• With changes in climate, the extent of forested areas in Wyoming could change little or decline by as much as 15-30%. The uncertainties depend on many factors, including whether soils become drier and, if so, how much drier. Hotter, drier weather could increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, threatening both property and forests. Drier conditions would reduce the range and health of ponderosa and lodge pole forests, and increase their susceptibility to fire. Grasslands and rangeland could expand into previously forested areas in the western part of the state. Milder winters could increase the likelihood of insect outbreaks and of subsequent wildfires in the dead fuel left after such an outbreak.

The above are based on from the Environmental Protection Agency's report on climate change, which uses data from the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001).

For more info on climate change impacts on Wyoming in areas such as water resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, you can download pdf of full EPA Report.

CO2: How Does Your State Rank?

Wyoming is the highest emitter of C02 of all 50 states and the most populous.

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Maps

See CO2 output by sector, coastal population maps, and maps of regional initiatives.

Regional Initiatives

In the absence of federal action, many U.S. states are banding together to explore and employ greenhouse gas-reducing policies.

Wyoming participates in the following:

Western Governors' Association (WGA): Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative

Learn about climate initiatives in all U.S. states and regions

Your Impact

Estimate your CO2 footprint by using a carbon calculator such as the one on the Inconvenient Truth web site.

How green is your energy? The EPA has a power profiler that can tell you.