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Small Midwestern states are expected to be hit the hardest by climate change, according to a new report from the Nature Conservancy, which indicates that Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa will face the steepest rise in temperature, threatening to devastate the regions farming industry. Tragically, many of the senators from those states are not expected to support the proposed climate bill currently awaiting a Senate vote, potentially dooming their own states through their own shortsightedness. 

If carbon emissions continue to rise unabated, temperatures in the Midwest are predicted to rise by 10 degrees by 2050, which would cause the region’s fertile soil and temperate climate to be more like that of Texas and Mexico.  To learn more take a look at this interactive map from the Nature Conservancy.  Even if steps are taken to curb emissions, there is still a chance that food production in the region could face problems, as another study from Columbia University indicates that crop loss could be greater than previously projected.

While I’m not holding my breath for some of the Senators to change their stance on climate legislation, I truly hope that they take stock of the threat climate change poses to their states and the dire consequences that could take place should they fail to act.  Jonathan Hoekstra, director of climate change for The Nature Conservancy, frames their stubborn stance bluntly and grimly:

To many, climate change doesn’t seem real until it affects them, in their backyards.  In many states across the country, the weather and landscapes could be nearly unrecognizable in 100 years.

Use the action link below to find out what you can do to do your part in solving the climate crisis with the Nature Conservancy.