Union of Concerned Scientists

Unless the build up of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is slowed, the climate of the Gulf Coast region could be noticeably altered. Below is a summary of the projected impacts of climate change over the next few decades. These projections assume that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities such as driving cars and generating electricity will continue unabated.

Projected Climate Changes in the Gulf Region
		3-5°F rise in winter lows and 3-7°F rise in summer highs. July heat index—a measure combining temperature and humidity—could rise by 10-25°F.
		Drier in most coastal zones; wetter or drier in upland regions.
		More frequent intense rainfall events; longer dry periods in between. Hurricanes more intense.
		13 inch average rise by 2100 in addition to local land sinking.
		Continued temperature and precipitation variation, in part related to ENSO (El Niño / Southern Oscillation ) cycle.

Thankfully, there are simple, practical steps we can take to reduce human-created greenhouse gas emissions and thus reduce many of these impacts. Learn more about the many opportunities available to us under 'Discover the Solutions.' For additional information on the summarized impacts, explore the other colorful pages of this feature.