Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest

The report projects that Michigan will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding, and agricultural disruptions by the end of the century, particularly under a higher-emissions scenario. It highlights risks to public health from extreme heat and ozone pollution, as well as threats to the state's dairy and corn industries. To mitigate these effects, the document advocates for strengthening renewable energy standards, updating building codes, and implementing federal cap-and-trade and fuel economy policies.

• Under a higher-emissions scenario toward the end of the century, Detroit is projected to experience extreme summer heat, including almost 65 days with highs over 90°F and 23 days with highs over 100°F.
• Extreme heat is projected to increase the frequency of lethal heat waves in Michigan; by the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario, Detroit could face heat waves similar to the 1995 Chicago heat wave twice every summer.
• Climate change is expected to degrade air quality in Michigan, as higher temperatures increase ground-level ozone and demand for electricity may increase emissions from coal-fired power plants, exacerbating risks for residents with asthma and heart disease.
• Precipitation patterns are projected to shift, with winters and springs becoming wetter—potentially increasing by more than 20 percent toward the end of the century under high emissions—while summers become drier, increasing the risk of short-term droughts.
• Water levels in the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, are projected to decline by one to two feet under a higher-emissions scenario, threatening the shipping industry and coastal ecosystems.
• Michigan's agriculture faces significant threats from heat stress, including the potential for corn crops to fail at 95°F and a decline in milk production from dairy cattle when temperatures exceed 75°F to 80°F.
• Warmer winters are projected to allow crop pests, such as the corn earworm, European corn borer, and two types of corn rootworm, to expand their range northward into Michigan.
• To reduce emissions, the report recommends that Michigan strengthen its renewable electricity standard to 25 percent by 2025, adopt 2009 building standards, and implement a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants lacking carbon capture and storage technology.

APA

Fitzpatrick, M., Freese, B., Wadsworth, B., & Lamm, R. (2009). Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-change-michigan.pdf

Chicago

Fitzpatrick, Melanie, Barbara Freese, Bryan Wadsworth, and Rouwenna Lamm. Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2009. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-change-michigan.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Melanie |last2=Freese |first2=Barbara |last3=Wadsworth |first3=Bryan |last4=Lamm |first4=Rouwenna |title=Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=July 2009 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-change-michigan.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fitzpatrick2009confronting, author = {Fitzpatrick, Melanie and Freese, Barbara and Wadsworth, Bryan and Lamm, Rouwenna}, title = {{Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2009}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-change-michigan.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }