Effect of Climate Change in the Southeast

Research has shown that climate change will impact the Southeastern United States through increased flooding, higher temperatures that will affect human health and shift ecosystems, and increased chances for wildfires. In fact, an economic study  reported in Science magazine stated that the southeast and the Midwest would be the most impacted by climate change. 

The following information is highlighting research that was pulled from the economic reported cited above. 

This photo represents 9 different consequences of climate change projected for 2080-2099, a majority of them negativity effecting the southern United States 

• (A) "The percent change in yields, area-weighted average for maize, wheat, soybeans, and cotton." Agricultural yields take on a strong negative change in the South-East United States.
• (B) "Change in all-cause mortality rates, across all age groups". This mortality has a strong negative increase in the Southern part of the United States
• (C) "Change in electricity demand". A large increase in electricity demand is centered in the South Eastern United States.
• (D) "Change in labor supply of full-time equivalent workers for low-risk jobs where workers are minimally exposed to outdoor temperature." Some parts of the Southwest will experience a stronger change, and while the change is not drastic in the Southeast, there will be a decline over time. 
• (E) "Same as (D), except for high-risk jobs where workers are heavily exposed to outdoor temperatures" The Southeast has a prediction of a very strong increase in high-risk jobs where workers are heavily exposed to outdoor temperatures. 
• (F) "Change in damages from coastal storms." The Southeast is predicted to have the strongest increase in coastal storm damages. The grey area most likely indicates that that data is not available
• (G) "Change in property-crime rates." The Northeast, as well as places throughout the West, are predicted to increase in property-rate crime. This seems to be the only statistic in the study where other places in the US faced stronger negative consequences. 
• (H) "Change in violent-crime rate." This predicts that this will be stronger on the East Coast.
• (I) "Median total direct economic damage across all sectors" This shows a strong increase in direct damages in the Southern part of the United States. 

ACCGov Sustainability Commitments 

As the effects of climate change become more apparent, the Athens-Clarke County government has recognized that in order to best serve it’s citizens, it is necessary to move forward in the most sustainable way possible. You can read the 100% Clean and Renewable Resolution to see the commitments outlined by ACCGov to fight against climate change. Through sustainability, we can address the problems of disadvantaged communities through equitable, economic, and environmental approaches. Centering these three key factors will best equip ACCGov to tackle the consequences of climate change. 

Economic

This section outlines the economic benefit that Athens can gain through the lens of sustainability. The renewable market is steadily growing within Georgia and Athens, which can further serve to keep energy money circulating within Georgia instead of leaving it. This can turn into direct savings for the county and job creation as well. 

Environment

This section outlines the importance of our environmental impact and where it comes from. Through reducing our energy consumption and using renewable sources, we can begin to repair our relationship to our surrounding environment and conserve the resources that nature provides for free. These resources include; clean water, fresh air, a healthy ecosystem, and food sources. 

Equity

This section describes the inequalities that exist within Georgia and Athens, and how climate change can lead to further damage and harm to vulnerable and marginalized populations. Two inequality problems that exist within Athens, for example, are Energy Burden and Housing Affordability. 

Each of these factors are represented as tabs on the left. If you are interested in learning more about how the 100% Clean and Renewable Resolution will take each of these into account, please click the corresponding issue.