Preparing for Climate Change in Illinois

Abstract

Illinois needs to prepare now for the coming changes associated with climate change, according to IGPA's Climate Change Policy Initiative. A new report, "Preparing for climate change in Illinois: An overview of expected impacts" (PDF), calls for a state-wide climate action plan to manage the negative consequences of climate change such as heat-related health crises, higher electricity costs, overwhelmed storm management infrastructure, decreased agriculture output, and rising costs in the insurance market.

The report is a product of the IGPA Climate Change Policy Initiative, which brings together scholars at the University of Illinois to better understand how public policy can protect Illinois residents from the negative effects of climate change.

Keywords: climate, change, policy, insurance, state, droughts, resources