Report on Climate Change Impacts on Great Lakes Tourism and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction: An Economic and Environmental Assessment

A recent report from the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) details the significant economic consequences of climate change on the tourism industry in the Great Lakes region. The findings indicate that climate-induced changes, including warmer waters and erratic weather patterns, are undermining a multi-billion dollar sector. This situation presents a direct challenge to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The region’s tourism economy, historically reliant on predictable seasonal activities, now faces unprecedented instability.

Sector-Specific Impacts and SDG Implications

Winter Tourism and Economic Viability (SDG 8 & SDG 13)

The impact of climate change is profoundly affecting winter tourism, threatening local economies and livelihoods in contravention of SDG 8. The primary challenges are a direct result of failures in global SDG 13 climate targets and include:

• Shortened Seasons: Milder winters are reducing the duration of snow cover, curtailing the operational window for ski resorts and related businesses in Michigan, Wisconsin, and other regional states.
• Reduced Revenue Streams: The decline in reliable snowfall negatively impacts activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. This leads to decreased sales of equipment and services, placing severe economic strain on communities dependent on winter tourism.
• Increased Operational Costs: Businesses are forced to invest in costly snowmaking equipment to mitigate the lack of natural snow, adding financial pressure and increasing energy consumption.
• Planning Uncertainty: The unpredictability of snowfall makes it difficult for businesses and tourists to plan, reducing the region’s attractiveness as a reliable winter destination.

Summer Tourism and Infrastructure Resilience (SDG 11 & SDG 14)

Summer tourism is equally vulnerable to climate change, with impacts that threaten public health, safety, and community infrastructure, thereby challenging the objectives of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

1. Extreme Weather Events: The increasing frequency of intense heatwaves and severe rainstorms makes outdoor activities like festivals, hiking, and camping less appealing and potentially hazardous.
2. Infrastructure Damage: Heavy precipitation and subsequent flooding damage critical tourism infrastructure, including roads, parks, trails, and marinas. This compromises access and safety, undermining the resilience targeted by SDG 11.
3. Water Quality Degradation: Warmer lake temperatures contribute to the proliferation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These blooms degrade water quality, posing risks to human health and making swimming, fishing, and boating unsafe. This directly conflicts with the goals of SDG 14 to protect marine and coastal ecosystems.

Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems (SDG 14)

The regional fishing industry, a cornerstone of both tourism and local economies, is at risk due to changing lake conditions. This trend jeopardizes the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources as outlined in SDG 14.

• Habitat Disruption: Warming waters are altering the natural habitats of native fish species, leading to potential declines in populations.
• Loss of Ice Fishing: Diminishing ice cover during winter is eliminating the traditional and economically significant practice of ice fishing.
• Economic Consequences: Declining fish stocks threaten the viability of both the recreational angling and commercial fishing industries, which support numerous small businesses and local jobs, linking the health of SDG 14 to the success of SDG 8.

Cultural and Heritage Tourism (SDG 11)

The region’s cultural and heritage assets are exposed to new threats from climate change, challenging the mandate of SDG 11.4 to safeguard cultural and natural heritage.

• Physical Damage: More frequent and intense storms pose a risk of damage to historic sites, museums, and other cultural landmarks.
• Event Disruption: Unpredictable weather patterns disrupt outdoor cultural festivals and events, which are major economic drivers for local communities. This uncertainty complicates event planning and reduces their reliability as tourism attractions.

Strategic Responses and Pathways to Sustainable Tourism

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Efforts (SDG 13)

In response to these challenges, regional stakeholders are increasingly focused on climate adaptation strategies. These efforts are crucial for building resilience and represent tangible progress toward SDG 13 (Climate Action). Key strategies include:

1. Enhancing Infrastructure Resilience: Investing in climate-proof infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.
2. Promoting Sustainable Tourism: Marketing eco-tourism and other experiences that are less dependent on specific climate conditions.
3. Adjusting Tourism Calendars: Encouraging travel during shoulder seasons to distribute tourism flow more evenly throughout the year and avoid peak climate-risk periods.

Diversification for Economic Resilience (SDG 8)

To secure long-term economic stability, the region is pursuing diversification of its tourism offerings. This strategic shift directly supports the principles of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating more stable, year-round employment opportunities.

• Development of Year-Round Attractions: Expanding indoor recreational facilities, museums, and cultural centers to provide weather-independent tourism options.
• Shifting Focus: Moving beyond purely seasonal activities to build a more robust and diversified tourism economy capable of withstanding climate variability.

Conclusion: A Call for Sustainable Transformation

The tourism industry of the Great Lakes region is at a critical juncture, facing undeniable threats from climate change. The impacts on seasonal activities, natural ecosystems, and cultural heritage require an urgent and strategic transformation toward sustainability. By embracing climate adaptation, diversifying economic activities, and aligning strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals—notably SDG 8, SDG 11, SDG 13, and SDG 14—the region can mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and secure a resilient and prosperous future for its communities and tourism sector.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article mentions that the Great Lakes serve as a source of “drinking water by millions of residents.” It also highlights threats to water quality from “warmer waters” and “algal blooms,” which can make water activities dangerous.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The central theme is the “increasing economic toll of climate change on the Great Lakes region’s tourist industries.” The article details how this multi-billion dollar industry and its related occupations are undermined by unpredictable weather, affecting businesses from ski resorts to fishing charters.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses how extreme weather, such as “heavy rain-induced flooding” and “more frequent storms,” damages local tourism infrastructure including “roads, parks and waterfront,” as well as “historic buildings, museums and outdoor cultural events,” threatening the region’s cultural and natural heritage.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • This is the core SDG. The entire article is framed around the “impact of climate change,” citing effects like “milder winters,” “heatwaves,” and “erratic weather.” It concludes by emphasizing the need for “climate adaptation efforts” to build resilience.
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article explicitly describes the impact on the Great Lakes’ aquatic ecosystem. It notes that “warming waters are disrupting the habitats of native fish species,” leading to “declining fish numbers,” and that increased “algal blooms” are hampering water quality.
6. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The impacts on terrestrial ecosystems are discussed in the context of tourism. “Milder winters are cutting back on snow cover,” affecting land-based winter activities. Flooding also causes “damage on trails,” impacting land accessibility for recreation.

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

1. Under SDG 6:
   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article notes the Great Lakes are a source of “drinking water by millions,” implying the importance of protecting this source from climate impacts.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials… The mention of “algal blooms” (HAAs) caused by warmer waters directly relates to deteriorating water quality.
2. Under SDG 8:
   • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article directly calls for the “creation of sustainable tourism programmes” and “marketing eco-tourism experiences” as an adaptation strategy.
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification… The article suggests diversifying beyond seasonal tourism by developing “year-round attractions, including indoor recreational facilities, museums, and local cultural opportunities.”
3. Under SDG 11:
   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The article raises alarm over “Cultural and Heritage Tourism in Jeopardy,” stating that storms and floods can “harm historic buildings, museums and outdoor cultural events.”
   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce… direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters… The article highlights the “economic toll” and damage to “local tourism infrastructure and facilities” from flooding and severe weather.
4. Under SDG 13:
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire article is a case study of this target, concluding that the region must “transform to be sustainable” through “the adoption of climate adaptation efforts.”
5. Under SDG 14:
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts… The article details how climate change is “disrupting the habitats of native fish species” and altering the lake ecosystem.

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

1. Economic Indicators:
   • The article mentions the “economic toll” on the tourism industry, which is “worth billions of dollars.” Progress could be measured by tracking the revenue of tourism-related businesses. Other specific indicators include “sales of gear and snowmobiles” and revenue from the “commercial fishing industry.”
2. Climate and Environmental Indicators:
   • The article implies several indicators of climate change: “duration of winter,” amount of “snow cover,” frequency and severity of “heatwaves,” and frequency of “heavy rain” and “flooding.”
   • Indicators for water health include the presence and frequency of “algal blooms” and data on “declining fish numbers.”
3. Tourism and Infrastructure Indicators:
   • Progress can be measured by tracking the number of “losing days” for ski resorts at the beginning and end of the season.
   • The condition of infrastructure is an indicator, measured by the extent of “damage on trails, marinas and lakeside properties” and harm to “historic buildings.”
4. Adaptation Indicators:
   • Progress in adaptation could be measured by the number of businesses that “diversify beyond seasonal tourism” or the development of “year-round attractions.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: travelandtourworld.com