Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest

The report projects that Wisconsin will face significantly hotter summers, increased flooding, and agricultural disruptions if current emissions trends continue. Under a high-emissions scenario, Milwaukee could see more than 55 days per summer over 90°F by the end of the century. The document advocates for a transition to clean energy through renewable electricity standards, energy efficiency, and federal cap-and-trade policies to mitigate these risks.

• Under a higher-emissions scenario, Wisconsin's average summer temperatures 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 in Milwaukee is projected to increase dramatically; by the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario, the city could experience more than 55 days per summer above 90°F and more than 22 days above 100°F.
• Climate change is expected to worsen air quality in Wisconsin, specifically increasing ground-level ozone and particulate pollution, which aggravates respiratory conditions like asthma.
• Precipitation patterns are projected to shift, with winters and springs becoming up to 30% wetter toward the end of the century under high emissions, while summers see 10% less rain.
• Agricultural productivity is threatened by heat stress, where three-day periods of 95°F or higher are projected to occur in every Wisconsin summer toward the end of the century under high emissions.
• Livestock and crop pests face new threats; dairy cattle may endure near-permanent heat stress by the end of the century, and pests like the corn earworm are projected to expand their range into Wisconsin.
• Water levels in the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, are projected to fall between one and two feet toward the end of the century under a higher-emissions scenario.
• To reduce emissions, the report recommends strengthening the renewable electricity standard, adopting a renewable energy buy-back program, and implementing a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants without carbon capture and storage.

APA

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

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest. 2009. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-change-wisconsin.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest |date=July 2009 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/climate-change-wisconsin.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2009confronting, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, 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-wisconsin.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }