The Midwest is one of the most economically productive regions of the country, says the Heat in Heartland report, “But climate change puts that productivity at risk.” Higher temperatures will drive up electricity costs and cut labor productivity. “Meanwhile, without significant adaptation on the part of Midwest farmers, the region’s thriving agricultural sector—particularly in the southern states—is likely to suffer yield losses and economic damages as temperatures rise,” says the report produced by Risky Business Project, which “focues on quantifying and publicizing the economic risks from the impact of a changing climate.”
“If we continue on our current emissions path without significant adaptation, by the end of the century the Midwest will likely see overall agricultural losses for corn and wheat of 11% to 69% across the region as a whole, with a 1-in-20 chance of more than an 80% decline,” says the report.