Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest

The report projects that Ohio will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding, and agricultural disruptions if current emissions trends continue. It highlights severe risks to public health from heat waves and ozone pollution, and warns of crop and livestock stress. The document advocates for a transition to clean energy through stronger renewable electricity standards, updated building codes, and federal cap-and-trade legislation.

• Under a higher-emissions scenario, average summer temperatures in Ohio are projected to increase by more than 3°F over the next several decades and by 12°F toward the end of the century.
• Extreme heat is projected to increase dramatically in major cities; by the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario, Cincinnati could have over 85 days above 90°F and nearly a month over 100°F, while Cleveland could have over 60 days above 90°F and three weeks over 100°F.
• Rising temperatures are expected to worsen air quality in Ohio, specifically increasing ground-level ozone and particulate pollution (soot), which aggravates respiratory conditions like asthma.
• Precipitation patterns are projected to shift, with winters and springs becoming almost 30 percent wetter toward the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario, while summers see 5 percent less rain.
• Agriculture faces significant threats from heat stress and pests; three-day periods of temperatures 95°F or higher are projected to occur almost every summer in Ohio toward the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario, and the range of pests like the corn earworm is expected to expand.
• Water levels in the Great Lakes are projected to decline due to increased evaporation and decreased lake ice, with Lake Erie's levels projected to fall by almost 1.5 feet toward the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario.
• Ohio is a major emitter of global warming pollutants, with 87 percent of its electricity coming from coal-fired power plants, which is significantly higher than the national average of 50 percent.

APA

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

Chicago

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

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Freese |first1=Barbara |last2=Wadsworth |first2=Bryan |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-ohio.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{freese2009confronting, author = {Freese, Barbara and Wadsworth, Bryan}, 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-ohio.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }