→ Climate Change

Climate change is a topic of debate at the local, state, and national level. Research by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts, however, is indicating that there are potential impacts that could have serious implications for our communities. The following resources share what experts are learning about potential climate change impacts. Mitigation and Adaptation strategies can be developed to iincorporate “no regret” climate change adaptation strategies at the local level and still be respectful of local communities concerns and questions related to this topic.

Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A Report from the Climate Change Response Framework Project in Northern Wisconsin-USDA.
(Downloadable book (http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs82.pdf 7.57 mg) or you can order hard copies).  Understandable research on climate change impacts to northern forests. This assessment evaluates key forest ecosystem vulnerabilities to climate change across northern Wisconsin under a range of future climate scenarios. Great tool for discussing potential changes in forest composition and impacts on local economies to help landowners, businesses, forest managers, policymakers, etc to help establish priorities for management. There are lots of other great climate change tools pertaining to forest management on this site.

Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts- Interactive Mapping Tool— Another great teaching tool that allows manipulation of climate variables, climate scenarios (for mid and late century projections), seasons, and time periods from historic (recorded, observed changes) to late century.  Dave was too modest—there’s lots of other great interactive tools and research to help engage learners in about climate change on the WICCI website.

G-WOW Changing Climate, Changing Culture Climate Change Literacy Model (website):  

This climate change literacy model integrates place-based evidence of climate change impacts with climate science. What makes this model unique  it is based on understanding the impacts of climate change on the sustainability of key species that support cultural practices of the Lake Superior Ojibwe, as a way of investigating climate impacts on all cultures.  This links culture with science and makes the model transferable to other cultures and locations.

A list of climate change education resources including power points, video, climate jeopardy game, etc.  used at our summer G-WOW Teacher Institutes can be found here.

Yale Project on Climate Change Communication: Research on public climate knowledge, risk perceptions, decision-making and behavior that are helpful in communicating the issue with audiences.  Research on the “Six Americas of Climate Change” is especially helpful.

Other Climate Change Resources

University of Minnesota Climate Science Initiative Conference / Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative present a wealth of research-based climate resources.  All links are PDFs unless otherwise indicated.

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