Wisconsin Climate Change
A "Climate Change Seminar" was presented to the state Natural Resources Board at its June 2010 meeting.
- Secretary Matt Frank, NRB Climate Change Seminar Introduction [VIDEO Length 2:04]
- NRB Climate Change Seminar -- June 2010 [VIDEO Length 01:50:05]
Showcase Stories
- The Link between Green Trees and Blue Ice
- Managing Water and Energy for the Future - Water Impact Index
- WI State Parks – Going Green with Clean-fuel Vehicles
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Future Projections-
/climatechange/images/WICCIwinteravetemp.jpgProjected Change in Winter Average Temperature °F from 1980 to 2055. Warming is most pronounced in winter. Source: WICCI
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Impacts on Wildlife
/climatechange/images/americanmarten300.jpgWisconsin's wildllife will be impacted by changes to their physical environment.
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Adapting to a Changing Climate
/climatechange/images/WICCIlogo300.jpgPlanning for the impacts of climate change is a priority of the department.
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Working to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
/climatechange/images/WIStrategy.jpgWorking to better our future through improvements in vehicle fuel economy, renewable energy purchases, increased energy efficiency and modifying our lifestyle choices.
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Education is the Key
/climatechange/images/ClimateChangeGuide300.jpgHelping students develop the knowledge and skills needed to become informed and active participants in society's climate change discussions.
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What You Can Do
/climatechange/images/bootprints300.jpgEven small changes in everyday life can make a difference. Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint.
The media and public are still debating whether human activities or natural forces caused the increase in global temperature over the last century. The most renowned group of scientists working on climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [exit DNR] (IPCC), stated that it is very likely [more than 90% probability] that we are responsible for rising temperatures. They expect global temperatures to increase another 2 to 10 degrees F by 2100, depending on how much atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise.
Currently in our State
- Scientists from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin are partners in the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI). WICCI studies how our state's climate has changed and makes projections on the future climate of our state. On February 8th, 2011, WICCI released its first adaptation report [exit DNR], which outlines how Wisconsin's climate has been changing and how climate changes will impact Wisconsin. These data are informing policy makers and natural resource managers on possible strategies for lessening our contributions to global warming (mitigation) and for adjusting to changes in the future (adaptation). Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) [VIDEO Length 47:48]
- On January 7, 2010, members of the Wisconsin state legislature introduced a new bill, the Clean Energy Jobs Act [exit DNR] (AB 649/SB 450). Based upon the recommendations of the Governor Doyle's Task Force on Global Warming, the bill contained features to increase renewable energy use, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and meet energy conservation goals. The bill was not brought to a vote in either the Assembly or State Senate. Additional information about the bill can be found on the Government Initiatives pages.
- Many programs, initiatives and actions aimed at addressing climate change and reducing Wisconsin’s dependence on fossil fuel, or that otherwise work toward the same or similar objectives/outcomes as those envisaged by the Task Force, have been are being put in place. Some of these are described in the Wisconsin Legislative Council’s January 2010 report, Implementation of Recommendations of the Governor’s Taskforce on Global Warming [exit DNR].
- In addition, the DNR is following planned or proposed federal initiatives, including potential Federal climate legislation and regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
Roles
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