Today at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota, I met a man who had been a student in a higher-learning situation for the past 7 years, but had never heard how global warming would directly affect Minnesotans. I was just as surprised as he was.

After learning that rural areas would be the hardest hit, that increased water and irrigation for farmers will be needed, and that it wasn't as simple as shifting the "corn belt" to a new region, he asked how to take action and get the information out there to others. He wanted to know "when will I be able to talk with someone about this on the street?"

Sometimes we forget that climate change will affect all Minnesotans and that it goes beyond those that work in the fields of energy and natural resources. We also assume that all learning institutions are providing accurate science-based information on global warming. This is not always true, but thankfully good information is available.

Below you'll find links to a few great reports on how humans and the environment in Minnesota will be affected (both good and bad) due to climate change. You'll also find a link to what can be done to help ensure that these impacts are minimized.

It's important that this conversation is happening everywhere, so be sure to spread the word!

Union of Concerned Scientists Report: Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest - Minnesota

Union of Concerned Scientists Report: Confronting Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region (updated executive summary 2005)

How to take action