Fostering Climate Connections
Organizational networks help connect groups of people with common interests. Since 2010, the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA) has been fostering connections in the Great Lakes region. Organizations exchange information and collaborate with others to improve the knowledge and application of climate science. This network of organizations effectively transfers climate information to decision-makers. The result is better planning to address key challenges, like increased flooding and negative health impacts of extreme heat.
During the reporting period (2010-2016), GLISA and partners expanded the breadth and depth of climate research and adaptation planning work and leveraged more than $2.5 million in external funding. In response to the needs of scientists, stakeholders, and partners in the region, GLISA tailored science (historical and climate projections) from multiple sources. Increasingly, GLISA established a level of trust with Tribal communities, providing assistance with climate adaptation planning. This report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a summary of GLISA activities and accomplishments.
Selected Accomplishments 2010-2016:
- Identified five areas of increased health concerns due to climate change impacts through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
- Engagement within Tribal communities led to the development of more local and regional management strategies.
- Contributed to planning efforts for Isle Royale and the Apostle Islands, part of the National Park Service.
- Worked with the Michigan Agribusiness Association Partnership to develop a tool to measure evapotranspiration with the potential to be critical in agricultural water management.
- A partnership with the Huron River Watershed Council resulted in revised stormwater rules in Washtenaw County to require more filtration of stormwater.
See: GLISA Engagement Infographic
The Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program (GLISA) is a partnership between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, housed in the U-M Graham Sustainability Institute’s Climate Center. As one of ten NOAA-funded regional centers, GLISA builds capacity to manage risks from climate change and variability in the Great Lakes region.
See the Full Report: Managing Climate Change and Variability Risks in the Great Lakes Region
Top Image: Lake effect snow