CLIMATE

When it comes to climate change and environmental issues, it might feel like a lot to wrap your head around: The problems are so widespread and complex -- so if you’ve ever thought to yourself, “What can one person even DO?”, you’re likely not alone.

When it comes to our climate, and slowing the catastrophic effects of global warming, there’s so much information, and scientists are still working to learn more as the world continues to change and evolve over time.

2022 will be a key year for Michigan’s energy and climate future -- and we now have a peek into what could be the path forward. A look at some of the key points.

Students participated in a walkout on Friday demanding transparency and accountability from U-M officials on matters involving the climate and sexual misconduct.

One of the biggest issues in recycling is a concept known as “wishcycling,” an issue the EPA feels there needs to be more education on.

A shifting climate is changing where wine grapes can grow, and conditions are ripe for Wisconsin to become the new wine country.

Speaking to CNBC, John Neal attempted to paint a picture of how his sector would operate going forward.

Warmer temperatures associated with climate change will impact Michigan's fall color show in the years to come.

Some parts of the Northern Great Lakes region were greeted by their first significant snowfall of the season earlier this week, but not even the arrival of the fluffy white stuff could mask these historic times for the Great Lakes themselves.

On Friday, Nov. 12, the Ann Arbor area teens will feature in the video premiere of “Creating Youth-Led Solutions: Sharing Stories with the YMCA.”

There is a thriving, giant sequoia tree located in the far north, in an area that can best be described as a frozen tundra during the winter.

Watch live coverage as President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the COP26 climate summit with other world leaders.

A crucial U.N. climate summit opened Sunday amid papal appeals for prayers and activists’ demands for action, kicking off two weeks of intense diplomatic negotiations by almost 200 countries aimed at speeding up the global response to global warming.

Warmer temperatures associated with climate change will impact Michigan's fall color show in the years to come.

Until the end of September, earthday.org is encouraging people around the world register or participate in cleanup projects.

A tree that’s larger than the Statue of Liberty from its base to the torch is trying to be shielded away from wildfires in California.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, lots of people are asking: did climate change cause this?

Just this week, a major Southern California water agency declared a water supply alert for the first time in seven years, and is asking residents to voluntarily conserve. Many of the state’s counties are already under a state of drought emergency.

While it doesn’t seem like there’s much of a difference on the measurement scale, how much of a difference does .2 make, in reality?

Maybe you’re preparing to return to in-person work. Perhaps you came back to the office months ago. Or maybe you’ll be doing some combination of remote employment and in-office days, balancing Zoom calls from your living room with physical appearances.

There was an all-time record high of over 67 degrees Fahrenheit over eastern Greenland last week.

Over the past month, cities across the state of Michigan have experienced historic rains and significant flooding.

Climate activists and their Democratic allies in Congress are pressing with renewed urgency for huge investments to slow global warming, after a bipartisan infrastructure plan cut out some of President Joe Biden’s key climate initiatives. Supporters say a larger, Democratic-only package now being developed in Congress must meet Biden’s promise to move the country toward carbon-free electricity, make America a global leader in electric vehicles and create millions of jobs in solar, wind and other clean- energy industries. On the other hand, a less costly bill that does not fully address climate change risks losing support from large numbers of liberal Democrats who have pledged action on an issue that Biden has called “the existential crisis of our times.”

Here is the weather forecast for Metro Detroit.

Late spring frosts have taken a bite out of the cherry harvest in parts of western Michigan, leaving some farms without any cherries at all.

“If we don’t slow down the cycle, pollen production will only get worse.”

Is this something to be concerned about? Many scientists feel it isn’t, but then again, it’s not everyday an iceberg the size of Rhode Island breaks free from Antarctica.

Earth’s climate is warming and, in turn, is affecting our weather in many ways -- especially among tropical weather systems.

An Ozone Action Day has been declared in Southeast Michigan today with temperatures rising to dangerous levels.

President Joe Biden will tour a Ford electric vehicle plant on Tuesday in Dearborn, where he’s expected to deliver remarks on infrastructure and more.

Data shows that Detroit’s temperature normals have increased over the last century.

“For Michigan to avoid the future harms of climate change and to enable the state to take advantage of the ongoing global energy transformation, it’s imperative to transition to carbon neutrality.”

Scientists say recent pledges by the United States and others could help cap global warming at 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Global warming is throwing a double whammy at the Detroit region.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is commemorating Earth Day on Thursday by announcing the state’s plan to shift to renewable energy.

Pretty soon, people will be coming out from behind the Zoom screens -- without the bonus of having the “filter” button to click on.

On the week of Earth Day a group of Michigan leaders has announced the state's $97 commitment to funding recycling efforts statewide.

Teaming up with NBC’s Climate Challenge this Earth Week, Local 4 meteorologist Paul Gross will answer the most-asked questions about climate change all week long.

One of the most interesting climate solutions is right beneath our toes, in the soil: Regenerative farming.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The University of Michigan announced a plan Thursday to achieve “net zero” carbon footprint status for its $12.5 billion endowment by 2050 through measures including shifting away from investment in fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. It calls for $140 million worth of new investments in solar and wind developments and projects to limit carbon emissions. Numerous governments, businesses and universities have committed to net zero carbon footprints in the push to reduce emissions of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. “Net zero” generally means offsetting emissions of greenhouse gases with reductions elsewhere. Under the University of Michigan plan, endowment holdings in assets with carbon output would be balanced with investments in carbon reductions by 2050.

“Through implementation of the carbon neutrality plan, U-M will provide a model for taking early action to avoid the most adverse impacts of climate change. An institution can achieve carbon neutrality by offsetting the emissions it creates with emissions it removes. Establish, by 2025, carbon neutrality goal dates for Scope 3 emissions categories that are set for no later than 2040. Ad“I applaud the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality for leveraging the strengths of our university and broader community to bring forward a comprehensive report. “Our community comprises more than 100,000 students, staff and faculty, and our path toward carbon neutrality requires that they all feel empowered, represented and responsible.

One of the most popular detergent brands has a new mission to make laundry more environmentally friendly. Tide’s “Ambition” project aims to “do a load of good for people and the planet.” Tide said it will tackle the issue of more sustainable laundry at every step of the process: manufacturing, packaging, cold washing and a community program. The “cold washing” process is for you, the consumer, to help with:Tide says 90 percent of the energy used in laundry comes from heating water, urging consumers to use cold water instead. Of course, the company says its “Tide Power PODS” clean clothes better in cold water than other brands in hot water. Take the poll:

It’s time to adjust the clocks in the kitchen, bedroom, car and wherever else is needed, as another daylight saving time day is upon us this weekend.

This article was first published in the “In This Climate” Newsletter, a periodical newsletter looking at the impact of climate change in Michigan. How is climate change impacting Michigan right now -- and how will it impact Michigan in the future? He has studied weather and climate for decades, and has been reporting on climate change since the early 1990s (before it was on other meteorologist’s radar). UN report : Humans are making Earth a broken and increasingly unlivable planet through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Humans are making Earth a broken and increasingly unlivable planet through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Unlike Texas, Michigan does not operate on its own, independent power grid. It is part of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) grid, but wait -- it gets more complicated.

"Michigan needs to become a leader in transitioning the state to low-carbon energy, and eliminating all forms of greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 or earlier."

According to data from Climate Central, across all the Great Lakes the annual maximum ice cover is, on average, 22% lower than it was a half-century ago. Furthermore, ice coverage is becoming less reliable, with more frequent years of extremely low ice coverage. Based upon ice coverage charts from the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor, ice cover on the five Great Lakes peaked at an average of 47% this winter (with shallow Lake Erie skewing the numbers upward with its 80% ice coverage…the other four Great Lakes all peaked at or below 50% ice cover). This compares to an average ice cover for all five lakes of 53% in the 1973-2020 time period. AdMore information: Great Lakes Ice Coverage is ShrinkingRelated:

"If climate change isn’t stopped soon, the impacts of the change will become much worse in Michigan."

A new study finds that cleaner air from the pandemic lockdown warmed the planet a bit in 2020, especially in places such as the eastern United States, Russia and China. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 study found the pandemic lockdown reduced soot and sulfate air pollution, but those particles also reflect the sun's heat and help cool areas briefly. (AP Photo)Earth spiked a bit of a fever in 2020, partly because of cleaner air from the pandemic lockdown, a new study found. His calculations come from comparing 2020 weather to computer models that simulated a 2020 without the pollution reductions from pandemic lockdowns. “Clean air warms the planet a tiny bit, but it kills a lot fewer people with air pollution,” Gettelman said.

General Motors has set a goal of making the vast majority of the vehicles it produces electric by 2035, and the entire company carbon neutral, including operations, five years after that. The Detroit automaker's push into electric vehicles has gone into overdrive this year. By the end of 2025, 40% of its U.S. models will be battery electric vehicles. It's also working with others, including the Environmental Defense Fund, to build out the necessary infrastructure to power its electric vehicles and to promote their use. It wants to be seen as a clean vehicle company, rather than a builder of cloud-spewing gas-powered pickups and SUVs.

The Detroit automaker's push into electric vehicles has gone into overdrive this year. By the end of 2025, 40% of its U.S. models will be battery electric vehicles. The company plans to include crossovers, SUVs, sedans and trucks in its electric vehicle lineup. It's also working with others, including the Environmental Defense Fund, to build out the necessary infrastructure to power its electric vehicles and to promote their use. It wants to be seen as a clean vehicle company, rather than a builder of cloud-spewing gas-powered pickups and SUVs.

Often, we think of climate change as a thing that will happen many years from now. But that’s no longer the case. Climate change is happening right now, and its impacts can be seen across Michigan.

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)With our newest Newsletter, the team at ClickOnDetroit is taking a deep dive into climate change on a local level: working with experts to identify how climate change will impact Michigan, how it already is and what you might be able do about it. You can sign up for the In This Climate Newsletter right here. We want to hear from you: Do you have any questions or concerns about climate change, particularly in Michigan? 🌟 Become an Insider 🌟Introducing WDIV Insider: A new way for loyal Local 4 fans to gain access and customize your ClickOnDetroit news experience. Learn more about WDIV Insider -- and sign up -- here!