Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin

Below are some of the potential impacts:

• Over the last century, the average temperature in Stanley, Wisconsin, has remained virtually unchanged, and precipitation has increased by 5-10% in some areas of the state. Over the next century, Wisconsin’s climate may change significantly. The amount of precipitation on extremely wet days in summer most likely would increase. The frequency of extremely hot days in summer is expected to increase along with the general warming trend.
• A 4°F warming in the Midwest, with no other change in weather or emissions, could increase concentrations of ozone, a major component of smog, by as much as 8%. Perhaps more important, however, is that the area exceeding national health standards for ozone could almost triple. Currently, Door, Marathon, and Oneida counties do not meet national standards for ozone. Ground-level ozone has been shown to aggravate existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma, reduce lung function, and induce respiratory inflammation. In addition, ambient ozone reduces crop yields and impairs ecosystem health.
• The water temperatures of the Great Lakes could increase because of the warmer summer air temperatures and longer ice-free season. This could increase evaporation and degrade water quality through decreases in dissolved oxygen and increases in the growth of algae. Perhaps more importantly, increased lake evaporation could decrease lake levels by a foot or more for a 4°F warming. This could increase shore erosion from wind and rain, increase water pollutant concentrations, and result in increased dredging and other problems for Great Lakes shipping. Flood damages, however, could be lessened.
• With changes in climate, the extent of forested areas in Wisconsin could change little or decline by 55-75%. The uncertainties depend on many factors, including whether soils become drier and, if so, by how much. Significant summer droughts with increased tree loss and wildfire frequency could be expected with hotter and drier weather. The mixed aspen, birch, maple and pine forests found in the north would shrink in range and would be replaced by a combination of grasslands and hardwood forests consisting of more oak, elm, ash, and pines. Grasslands and savanna eventually could replace much of the forest and woodland in the state.
• In Wisconsin, agriculture is about a $6 billion annual industry, of which three-quarters comes from livestock. The principal crops are corn, silage, and hay. About 3% of the state’s farmed acres is irrigated. The effects of climate change are difficult to predict, however, potential impacts for Wisconsin might include: corn and silage yields unchanged, or they could decrease by up to 34%. Hay yields could remain unchanged or could decrease by 17%. 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. Increases in climate variability could make adaptation by farmers more difficult.

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 Wisconsin in areas such as water resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, you can download pdf of full EPA Report.

CO2: How Does Your State Rank?

Wisconsin 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.

Wisconsin participates in the following:

Midwest GHG Registry

Powering the Plains

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Your Impact

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

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