The likelihood of warmer temperatures and extreme weather events caused by climate change will exacerbate current economic problems, cause more health and livelihood issues, and force more infrastructure spending by local governments, according to a recent report released by the city of Bloomington.
Lauren Travis, assistant director of sustainability for the city, presented a climate risk and vulnerability assessment report covering the specific challenges Bloomington will face in the short term to the Bloomington City Council at its meeting Sept. 2.
The assessment, conducted by Minnesota-based climate and sustainability consulting firm Pale Blue Dot, specifically studied how climate change would affect people’s lives in Bloomington over the next decade, as well as the effects on buildings and infrastructure.
The average annual temperature has increased by 2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895. By 2100, the average annual temperature could be as much as 11 degrees warmer, according to the report.
“If current trends accelerate as they’re anticipated to, summertime conditions in Bloomington in the next 30 years are expected to be similar to those about 330 miles south,” Travis said, putting Bloomington with the same climate as many Gulf Coast cities.
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