Climate change effects can be seen and felt accross the entire United States. To learn more about regional impacts of climate change, visit https://climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-impacts/climate-change-impacts-region.

• In the Northeast, heat waves, heavy downpours, and sea level rise continue to compromise infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems. As such, many states and cities are beginning to incorporate climate change into their planning activities.
• In the Northwest, changes in the timing of peak flows in rivers and streams are reducing water supplies and worsening competing demands for water. Sea level rise, erosion, flooding, risks to infrastructure, and increasing ocean acidity pose major threats. Increasing wildfire incidence and severity, heat waves, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases are causing widespread forest die-off.
• In the Southeast, sea level rise poses the greatest threat to the region's economy and environment leading to decreased freshwater availability. Extreme heat waves will continue to effect public/environmental health, energy, agriculture, and more.
• In the Midwest, extreme heat, heavy downpours, and flooding continue to effect infrastructure, public health, agriculture, forestry, air and water quality, and more.
• In the Southwest, climate change has brought about increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks making wildfires and vector transmitted diseases more severe. In coastal areas, flooding and erosion are additional concerns. (Source: NASA)

According to the NYSDEC "the annual statewide average temperature in New York has warmed 3°F (0.6°F per decade) since 1970. The state's average temperatures are projected to rise by as much as another 3°F by 2080 with the greatest warming occurring in the northern parts of the state. Rising annual temperatures are already having widespread impacts on New York's communities and ecosystems and impacts are expected to increase. New York State's changing climate may no longer be able to support the types of plants, insects, and wildlife living in New York, particularly those in high-elevation regions like the Catskills and Adirondacks. As New York's temperatures increase, these species will extend their range north, impacting the industries and economies that depend on them such as fishing, hunting, and tourism." 

Across the northeastern U.S., winters are warming faster than any other season. Over the last century, average winter temperatures have increased by approximately 3°F, spring temperatures by 2°F, and summer and fall temperatures by 1.4°F. Warmer winter temperatures and fewer days below freezing bring winter precipitation in the form of rain casuing reduced snow cover and earlier spring snow melt. Reduced snow cover not only effects winter tourism in the State but also increases the vulnerability of certain plants that depend on snow for insulation, and wildlife that depend on snow for protection from predators during the winter.

Warmer winters in New York are also affecting the winter-spring season transition, impacting the timing of blooming for trees and flowers which migrating and hibernating wildlife depend on for food. Changes to the timing of the winter-spring transition can also impact agriculture by extending the length of the growing season, with the last frost of winter occurring earlier in the year. Although increasing the length of the growing season can have advantages, it can also impact the types of crops that can be grown, encourage invasive species, weed growth, and crop diseases, and increase demand for irrigation. (Source: NYSDEC)

Many states have taken action against climate change and its effects by incorporating mitigation and adaptaion planning strategies for example. Specifically, New York State created the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program in 2009 to ensure that statewide municipalities would act on climate change and its impacts. NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program began in 2016 to encourage local governments in New York State to implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the state of our environment.

To learn more about the impact of climate change in New York, visit https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/climate-change/new-york-response

As is the case with most of the United States, Putnam County and the Hudson Valley area are no strangers to the impacts of climate change. In short, below is an outline of the challenges that lie ahead for our region. 

Rising Temperatures:

• Heat waves affecting disabled, elderly, children and other vulnerable individuals.
• Increase in vector born (ticks, mosquitos, fleas, etc.) infectious disease rates such as Lyme Disease, Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, etc.
• Increase in insect reproduction rates
• Increase in invasive species: Emerald Ash Borer, Giant Hogweed, Japanese Stiltgrass, Jumping Worm, Spotted Lanternfly, Swallow Worts, etc.
• Rising sea levels: Atlantic Ocean expected to rise 2ft - 4.5ft by the year 2100. Since the Hudson River eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean, it is expected to rise at the same rate.
• Longer pollen seasons
• Shorter winter recreational seasons (skiing, snowboarding, tubing).

Heavier/Frequent Rainfall:

• Flooding and erosion (possible infrastructure failure)
• Difficulty farming
• Climate refugees from NYC/LI/NJ due to rising sea levels and tropical storms/hurricanes causing development pressure on open space.
• Damaged crops (apples, peaches, pears, blueberries, etc.)
• Delayed harvest dates and reduced crop yields.
• Increase in waterborne diseases via overwhelmed wastewater and stormwater systems (untreated water may be released into local water bodies).

To learn more about how climate change is impacting the Hudson valley region, visit https://theotherhudsonvalley.com/2018/11/29/climate-change-hudson-valley/ and https://cceputnamcounty.org/natural-resources/invasive-species.