What Could Global Warming do to the Northeastern United States?

The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a peer-reviewed report on the impact global warming could have in nine Northeastern states. Combining the expertise of 50 scientists and economists, the report takes a detailed look at the consequences of sticking with a fossil-fuel dependent economy or switching to cleaner, greener alternatives.

The differences between the two scenarios in the report are stark. Under the higher-emissions scenario, only Western Maine would have a reliable ski season by the end of the century, but under the lower-emissions scenario, many other parts of the Northeast would retain their ski seasons for winter recreation. Sea level rise is another big factor, with the higher-emissions scenario predicting much more frequent severe flooding for several major cities in the region, with less frequent floods under the lower-emissions scenario.

Global warming also could affect everything from farming, to milk production, to forest ranges and the spread of damaging invasive species.

The conclusion of the report is clear: The very notion of the Northeast is at stake. We need solutions and real leadership at every level of government to tackle the problem.

You can see the specific impacts for your state on the Climate Choices Web site. And while many states in the Northeast are already tackling global warming, some can do much more. And in some states that are moving forward on global warming, representatives in the federal government have yet to sign on to comprehensive global warming legislation. Depending on where you live, you can tell the right people to do the right thing for our climate.