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Vadim Balakin/Getty Images July 15, 2022 AJ Dellinger is a contributing writer for Bankrate. AJ writes about auto loans and real estate. Michele Petry is a senior editor for Bankrate, leading the site’s real estate content. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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It’s no secret that temperatures across the planet are on the rise. The earth’s temperature has risen by 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit (0.08 degrees Celsius) per decade since 1880, . But since 1981, the rate of warming has more than doubled. Scientists warn that if we see the planet warm to more than 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, we may see catastrophic effects. We’re currently at 1.1 degrees. As temperatures continue to rise, the result is being felt around the globe. The year 2020 tied with 2016 for the hottest year on record, . In fact, every year since 2013 has ranked as one of the 10 hottest years ever — and have occurred since 2000. As the planet gets hotter, we’re seeing other changes, too. Since 1993, sea levels have been rising about twice as fast as they typically do over time, increasing by up to 0.14 inches per year, according to the . Wildfires are getting more common and more destructive, . Researchers that 32 million homes may be at risk of hurricane damage.
Best states for climate change
Climate change presents many safety risks across the country, putting both people and homes at risk. Homes and residents in some states are likely to fare better than others as the crisis worsens. These five states are the best prepared for climate change. Minnesota
While it might be known for its cold winters, Minnesota is well-equipped to handle climate change. That’s partially because of its low risk of floods: Just 3 percent of the state’s population live in 100- or 500-year flood plains, according to . A 2019 New York Times article called , one of America’s most climate-proof cities, and the state legislature has released a that aims to make it carbon neutral by 2050. Illinois
Like Minnesota, Illinois benefits from its regional placement. The Great Lakes region faces less of a climate threat than coastal areas, and Cook County, Illinois, is a popular . Recent charts a path for the state to reach 100% clean energy by 2050. Rhode Island
Despite its location directly on the Atlantic coast, Rhode Island has ambitious climate action plans, including participating in the (RGGI), which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The state plans to use and has implemented programs to address the health effects of climate change as well. Maine
Another coastal state that outperforms regional expectations, Maine is also a member of RGGI. It has been on the front line with protect against the destruction that climate change can bring. The state is set to produce up to 80 percent of its by 2030 and plans to be . Wyoming
There is plenty of room in Wyoming to set up a home, and the state has poured money into to help address the threat of wildfires and other extreme conditions. Wyoming avoids most flooding risk thanks to its location, and deals with less heat and wildfire risk than many of its western neighbors.
Worst states for climate change
California
While , it unfortunately suffers from just about every climate risk imaginable. It is prone to , and it regularly experiences destructive wildfires and debilitating droughts. The state is a policy leader when it comes to addressing climate change, but its conditions make much of California a risk — it’s one of the states people worried about climate change move away from most. Florida
Much like California, Florida is vulnerable to many of the risks that climate change presents — though the biggest, by far, is flooding. Millions of , and it’s getting worse as sea levels rise. Extreme heat and hurricanes also pose major threats to Floridians. Utah
Utah is in the middle of dealing with significant droughts that have caused much of its famous , reaching its lowest level on record and leaving the state on the brink of an . Heat and drought are the biggest risk factors the state faces, and it has recently been experiencing the . South Carolina
When it comes to extreme weather, South Carolina is among the states that get hit hardest. It averages about and is regularly in the path of hurricanes along the Atlantic coast. Heat and coastal flooding are also issues. Texas
There is almost no climate change risk that Texas is exempt from. The state has become and suffers extreme heat waves that . Texas has also seen an increase in wildfires in recent years. Methodology
States were ranked by analyzing their susceptibility to the conditions brought about or worsened by climate change, including drought, floods, wildfires, storms and other extreme weather conditions. The number of existing threats, as well as the likelihood of conditions worsening, was taken into account. Each state’s response to climate change, including plans for mitigating risk, addressing emissions and building resilient infrastructure were also taken into consideration. What makes a city more or less resistant to climate change
Resistance to climate change requires considering a number of factors. The first is location: Is the city in a setting that limits its exposure to danger? Cities that border bodies of water are at higher risk of flooding, erosion and rising sea levels, while cities located near dense forests or dry areas risk damage from wildfires. And the risk to communities in Tornado Alley is self-evident. How a community is constructed can affect the level of risk. Cities with lots of urban sprawl, for instance, often suffer more from the effects of extreme heat. ones that are designed with dams and may be able to better defend against flooding. Individual as well. Cities can also utilize technology to combat encroaching threats. , for example, allows firefighters to combat wildfires at night, a period during which they would otherwise struggle to control the burn. Well-engineered sea walls can defend against rising sea levels and storm surges brought by hurricanes. Something as simple as can help mitigate heat waves in urban areas, while with considerably less energy than traditional air conditioning.
FAQs
What is climate change
Climate change is the long term change in temperature — and weather conditions — that the planet experiences over time. The term typically refers to changes caused by the actions of humans, such as greenhouse gas emissions, rather than changes that come about naturally. The phrases “climate change” and “global warming” are often used interchangeably, though they are not exactly the same thing.
What causes climate change
Climate change is caused by many different things. Some changes occur naturally over time. But the climate change that the planet is currently experiencing is — mostly the burning of fossil fuels. When we burn oil or gas, for example, it releases emissions like carbon dioxide. These hover in the atmosphere, trapping sunlight and causing the planet to warm (hence the term “global warming”). This warming, over time, has changed the planet’s climate outside of its natural cycle.
How can we stop climate change
Addressing climate change is a huge task that would require the participation of just about everyone on the planet, from governments to major corporations to individuals. Stopping it would require shifting away from fossil fuel sources for energy production and embracing clean energy alternatives, like wind and solar. Manufacturing and shipping industries would have to drastically cut down their emissions. Individuals can have an impact, too, by changing behaviors to shift demand — for example, eating less meat, using less plastic and recycling when possible can all help. SHARE: AJ Dellinger is a contributing writer for Bankrate. AJ writes about auto loans and real estate. Michele Petry is a senior editor for Bankrate, leading the site’s real estate content. Related Articles