How Will Climate Change Affect Pennsylvania?

By MB -
(This post is one of many linked to this year's Blog Action Day topic, climate change. To read more, visit the Blog Action Day Website, or look for #bad09 on Twitter.)

Generally when I think of the impact of climate change, Pennsylvania is not the first place that comes to mind. After polar bears, penguins, and the impact climate change will have on poverty throughout the world, I might start wondering about the changes that will come to my daily life.

But even here in Pennsylvania, the changes will be big. The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report last year noting that through climate change:
  • Air quality in PA is likely to decrease, thereby increasing the prevalence of asthma, allergies, and other respiratory ailments.
  • Yields of certain crops and dairy products will decrease.
  • Certain species of hardwood trees and birdlife may disappear.
  • Under best-case scenarios, Western PA will have a climate similar to today's climate in West Virginia and Ohio within 30 years. In 60 years, the Western PA climate will be similar to Kentucky. For Eastern PA, a best-case scenario leads to a climate similar to Virginia.
  • Under worse-case scenarios, Western PA will feel like Kentucky in 30 years and Alabama in 60. Eastern PA will feel like North Carolina in 30 years and southern Georgia in 60.
Other reports indicate that in economic terms, Pennsylvania could soon be spending billions on infrastructure, water resources, and agriculture due to climate change.

There is much more to read about climate change, and also much that you can do. What's important is that you begin taking action today.

Are you worried about climate change? Let us know in the comments section!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Overlooked and Undercounted: Struggling to Make Ends Meet in Pennsylvania

By -
Image
Census data tells us that 13% of Pennsylvania households live in poverty. In reality, even more households don’t have the income they need to reach self-sufficiency. One in four Pennsylvania households – over 846,000 – lack enough income to cover just the necessities. Since 1997, PathWays PA has worked with Dr. Diana Pearce and the University of Washington to calculate  The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania . Over the last 23 years,  The Self-Sufficiency Standard of Pennsylvania  has documented the continuing increase in the real cost of living, illuminating the economic crunch experienced by so many families today. Since 2010, PathWays PA and the University of Washington have also issued three versions of the  Overlooked and Undercounted  report, which looks at the number of households living above and below self-sufficiency. You can now use the interactive materials below to find out what it takes to be self-sufficient in your county. Click here  to read the 2020 O
Read more

Mini-Budget Update-Supporting the American Community Survey

By MB -
Image
(via The Census Project ) Next Tuesday, June 19 is an important date to mark on your calendar. The Congressional Joint Economic Committee is holding a public hearing on the economic impact of eliminating the American Community Survey (ACS) at 2:30 p.m., in Room 210 of the Canon House Office Building. Witnesses that will be speaking in opposition to the move to eliminate the ACS are Vincent Barabba, former director of the Census Bureau in two GOP administrations and Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Association of General Contractors and also representing the National Association of Business Economists. It is very important that we pack the congressional hearing room! If you cannot come, please urge your colleages to come. If you represent a non-DC organization contact your friends in Washington and urge them to attend. Also on Tuesday of next week some of our congressional supporters will be holding a noon press conference in the so-called House Triangle right outside the Cap
Read more

Overlooked and Undercounted in the Media (#media)

By MB -
Image
Below are all of the places we've seen Overlooked and Undercounted in the month of May! If you know of anywhere else, please let us know! You can also listen to the audio from our May 11 Conference Call on our website . May 21, 2009 - New Report Says 1 in 5 PA Families Live in Poverty May 21, 2009 - LTE: Clarifying ‘Overlooked And Undercounted’ Study May 19, 2009 - Caught in a trap: State and federal governments must help working poor May 16, 2009 - Study: Local poverty estimates too conservative May 15, 2009 - Study: Pa. Families Above Poverty Level, But Still Struggling May 12, 2009 - Study: 1 in 5 PA Families Struggling to Make Ends Meet May 12, 2009 - Report: Many PA families struggling May 12, 2009 - PathWays PA Releases New Report on Self-Sufficiency Standard May 12, 2009 - Poverty worse in PA than reported: study May 11, 2009 - 1 in 5 PA Households Can't Make Ends Meet May 11, 2009 - Study: 1 in 5 PA residents can't make ends meet May 11, 2009 - 1 in
Read more