Report on Climate Change Impacts in the Great Lakes Region and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

A recent assessment by the Environmental Law and Policy Center reveals that accelerating climate change in the Great Lakes region poses significant challenges to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated strategies to address environmental degradation, economic disruption, and social inequalities.

Environmental Integrity and Climate Action

H3: Climate Action (SDG 13)

The report confirms that human activity, primarily the combustion of fossil fuels, is the main driver of climate change, which is manifesting with increased intensity in the region.

• Since 1951, average air temperatures in the U.S. Great Lakes region have risen by nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The rate of warming has substantially increased in the last six years.
• Annual precipitation has increased by 15% since 1951, with a 37% increase in days with over 2 inches of precipitation compared to the 1901-1960 baseline.

H3: Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Clean Water (SDG 6)

The aquatic ecosystems of the Great Lakes are experiencing profound changes, threatening biodiversity and water resource stability.

1. Declining Ice Cover: Winter, the region’s fastest-warming season, has led to a steady decline in lake ice cover over 50 years. The 2024 ice season saw the lowest average ice cover on record. This loss of protective ice cover directly harms species like the lake whitefish by exposing their eggs.
2. Rising Water Temperatures: Summer surface temperatures are increasing, with Lake Superior warming by nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit between 1979 and 2023. Deeper waters are also warming, disrupting seasonal cycles like fall overturn.
3. Threatened Fish Populations: Lake whitefish populations are on the verge of collapse and may disappear from parts of Lake Michigan within five years due to warming waters and invasive mussels. Warming stream temperatures are projected to reduce habitats for brook and brown trout by 68% and 32% respectively.
4. Fluctuating Lake Levels: While subject to greater fluctuations, overall lake levels are projected to rise, with Lake Michigan and Huron potentially rising by up to 17.3 inches by mid-century.

H3: Life on Land (SDG 15)

Climate change is altering terrestrial ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and public health.

• Vector-Borne Disease Proliferation: Warmer temperatures are allowing tick species to expand their range northward. This includes the black-legged tick, a carrier of Lyme disease, and the lone star tick, which can cause a red meat allergy.
• Forest Carbon Sequestration: Old-growth forests in the region, such as those in northern Wisconsin, are proving to be significant carbon sinks, storing more carbon than previously understood. Protecting these forests is a vital strategy for carbon dioxide reduction and climate change mitigation.

Socio-Economic and Health Implications

H3: Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Sustainable Cities (SDG 11)

The health and safety of communities, particularly in urban areas, are increasingly at risk.

• Extreme Heat Waves: Dangerous heat waves are becoming more frequent. Urban areas like Chicago could face over 200 hours of temperatures above 95°F by the 2030s, a sharp increase from 30 hours in recent years.
• Urban Heat Islands: In cities like Milwaukee, impervious surfaces create “heat islands” where nighttime temperatures can be 10 degrees higher than in surrounding areas, posing severe health risks. This phenomenon exacerbates existing inequities in historically redlined communities.
• Decline in Cool Nights: A reduction in the number of cool nights increases health risks, as extreme nighttime heat can be more deadly than daytime heat.

H3: Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The economic consequences of climate change are widespread and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations.

1. Impact on Indigenous Communities: The Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi) are expected to be disproportionately affected. Impacts on land, water, and species threaten traditional practices, food sources, and cultural sites.
2. Economic Disruption: Reduced lake ice and changing weather patterns disrupt local economies dependent on winter sports, fishing, and shipping.
3. Sector-Wide Challenges: Key industries face significant challenges.
   • Tourism and Recreation: Shorter winters reduce opportunities for seasonal activities, while warming waters threaten cold-water fishing industries.
   • Infrastructure and Transport: Extreme weather damages infrastructure, and changing lake conditions impact the efficiency of shipping.
   • Public Health: Rising health risks from heat waves and vector-borne diseases place an increasing burden on public health systems.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on climate change in the Great Lakes region touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis reveals connections to the following goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses direct threats to human health, such as “more dangerous heat waves” and the expansion of disease-carrying ticks, which increase public health risks.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The text highlights how climate impacts are not evenly distributed. It points out that “urban heat islands continue to reinforce longstanding inequities” in communities of color and that Indigenous communities (the Anishinaabeg) “are poised to be disproportionately affected by climate change.”
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article focuses on the effects of climate change on urban areas, noting that cities like Milwaukee and Chicago face challenges from extreme heat, which drives up energy demand, and “more extreme rain events” that can damage infrastructure.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is the central theme of the article. It explicitly states that “Climate change continues to have a profound impact on the Great Lakes region” and details the causes (fossil fuels) and effects (warming temperatures, extreme weather).
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article provides extensive details on the negative impacts on the Great Lakes’ aquatic ecosystems, including “rising water temperatures,” “declining ice cover,” and “vanishing fish populations,” specifically mentioning that lake whitefish are “on the verge of collapse.”
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article addresses terrestrial ecosystems by discussing how warming temperatures are expanding the range of ticks, threatening land-based wildlife and humans. It also notes that warming stream temperatures are expected to reduce habitats for brook and brown trout and highlights the crucial role of “old growth forests” in carbon sequestration.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Explanation: The article’s focus on the increase in “dangerous heat waves,” “extreme rain events,” and fluctuating lake levels directly relates to the need for communities in the Great Lakes region to build resilience against these climate-related hazards.
2. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
   • Explanation: The article points to growing public health risks, such as the expansion of “black legged ticks, a primary carrier of Lyme disease,” and the lone star tick. This highlights the need for better management and early warning systems for vector-borne diseases.
3. Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…
   • Explanation: The article describes significant adverse impacts on the Great Lakes ecosystem, including rising water temperatures, declining ice cover which “protects whitefish eggs,” and the disruption of seasonal patterns like fall overturn, all of which threaten the health of the aquatic environment.
4. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • Explanation: The report’s finding that “lake whitefish are on the verge of collapse” and could face “local or regional extinction” is a direct call to action to prevent the loss of a key species. The projected reduction of habitat for brook and brown trout also falls under this target.
5. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…
   • Explanation: The article identifies specific groups that are disproportionately affected by climate change. It notes how historical redlining has concentrated communities of color in “urban heat islands” and how climate impacts threaten the cultural practices and resources of the Anishinaabeg peoples, pointing to a clear need to address these inequalities.
6. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses…caused by disasters…
   • Explanation: The article describes an increase in climate-related disasters, such as “more extreme rain events” and “dangerously hot days,” especially in urban areas. These events pose direct risks to people and cause economic losses by disrupting sectors like tourism, shipping, and fishing.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to track the issues discussed:

• Air and Water Temperature Changes: The article provides specific data points, such as the “nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit” increase in annual average air temperature since 1951 and the “nearly 5 degrees Fahrenheit” increase in Lake Superior’s summer surface temperature from 1979 to 2023. These are direct indicators of regional warming.
• Ice Cover Levels: The “steady decline in ice cover over the past five decades” and the fact that the “average ice cover across all five Great Lakes during the 2024 ice season was the lowest on record” serve as critical indicators for Target 14.2.
• Frequency of Extreme Weather Events: The report notes that “the number of days with at least 2 inches of precipitation was… 37% higher than… the baseline period of 1901-1960.” This metric can be used to track progress on Target 13.1.
• Fish Population Health: The status of lake whitefish, described as being “on the verge of collapse,” and the projected habitat reduction for brook and brown trout (“by 68% and 32%, respectively”) are key biodiversity indicators for Targets 14.2 and 15.5.
• Human Health Risks: The projected increase in extreme heat in Chicago (from “30 hours” to “more than 200 hours” of temperatures exceeding 95°F) and the expanding range of ticks are indicators for health-related targets.
• Socio-Economic Impacts: Indicators include disruptions to local economies (fishing, winter sports, shipping), rising public health risks, and the specific threats to the cultural practices of Indigenous communities. These qualitative indicators measure progress towards Targets 10.2 and 11.5.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jsonline.com