Global Warming News

Economy, wildlife, agriculture suffer most if global warming continues

By Carlos Gieseken
Central Wisconsin Sunday

According to a report released Wednesday by Wisconsin Environment, the newly formed environmental arm of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, Wisconsin will sustain continued economic, wildlife and recreational devastation if global warming is left unchecked.

The report provides data pointing to the effects on farming, agriculture, tree vegetation, hunting and other areas if temperatures continue to rise.

"Wisconsin's climate is already changing," said Matt Guidry, a campaign director with Wisconsin Environment.

The state's average temperature has increased 0.7 degree during the 20th century, the report states. Wisconsin's contribution to the problem is large, it reports, stating if it were its own country, it would rank 38th in the world for carbon dioxide emissions, placing it ahead of Romania, Austria, Sweden and Israel.

Jerry Knuth, director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, said information from the report would be included in the group's monthly newsletter, which reaches its 100,000 members. The group continues to lobby for carbon emission caps in Madison.

"Our deer hunting seasons are not as cold as I remember as a kid," he said. "Members tell me how the shortened winter season has had its effects on the spring. Our group will use (this report) as a tool."

Stevens Point resident and avid fisherman Joe Syverson, who attended the local release of the Wisconsin Environment report at Pfiffner Park, said he has seen changes in spawning times for fish.

"It's more of a signal than anything else," he said. "You can still fish, but with further change, is there more impact to come?"