Great Lakes, US: New interactive map aids regional climate change adaptation planning

An interactive online mapping tool called "Socioeconomics and Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region" was just released by its co-developers, the Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan and Headwaters Economics. The map visually demonstrates social, economic, and demographic information on the counties in the Great Lakes region, overlaid with data on municipal spending, land-use data, and climate change characteristics. The data used spans the timeframe between 1951 and 2011, and includes counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

"The interactive map is geared toward helping stakeholders see how changes in climate interact with social, economic and land-use changes across the region. We're really hoping it proves to be a valuable tool for all the municipalities who use it," explained Elizabeth Gibbons, Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities (GLAA-C) project manager and research area specialist.