UMN team contributes to comprehensive study on the costs of climate change for Minnesota

Today, with support from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other partners, the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership submitted a comprehensive report on the costs of climate impacts and adaptation in Minnesota to the State Legislature. The study demonstrates it is far more cost-effective to adapt now to expected changes than to respond after catastrophic events.

Without proactive investments in preparedness and adaptation, Minnesota could expect to see more than $20 billion in damages each year over the next 35 years. By the year 2100, if global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and we don’t take proactive measures to adapt, the estimated annual costs will exceed $50 billion.

“These figures represent not just government costs, but also costs that everyday Minnesotans will pay,” says Heidi Roop, Director of the Climate Adaptation Partnership and report author. “Families will spend more on medical interventions for asthma, for example, as climate change contributes to poor air quality. Heavier rainfall means more flooded basements and damaged homes. Increased energy demand will likely lead to higher household energy costs. Sodden soils will make it difficult for farmers to work the fields during critical planting seasons.”

The good news is there are well documented and effective solutions available. The report presents opportunities for adaptation across key economic sectors in Minnesota, including health, agriculture, energy systems, transportation, and ecosystems.

It comes on the heels of similar statewide reports from Wisconsin, Ohio, Colorado, and Massachusetts, with more in the works nationwide. These assessments all say the same thing: investing in adaptation is smart and fiscally responsible.

The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership offers critical resources and training to help communities respond to changing climate conditions and prepare for the years to come. Affiliated with both University of Minnesota Extension and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, the Climate Adaptation Partnership performs foundational climate research while also offering hands-on support to individuals and organizations across a range of backgrounds and industries in Minnesota, the Midwest region and beyond.