Resolution 7478 hazard mitigation

Home Browse Search

2024 Hennepin County All -Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan Volume 2 — Hazard Inventory 4.3.1.10. Detection & Warning The same scientists who contribute to the body of research summarized in the national and global assessment reports also issue statements and warnings regarding the trajectory of the climate and the steps needed to change that trajectory, and/or to protect ourselves against potentially dire consequences of not changing that trajectory. While there are no warnings for climate change like tornado warnings, or flash flood warnings, the IPCC effectively issues warnings with the release of its reports. Some scientists also often issue warnings individually or as smaller groups. The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that the climate is changing faster than we can manage and that without fast reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we will face severe consequences from heat waves, rising sea levels, larger storms, and greater extremes in general. 4.3.1.11. Critical values and thresholds Climate change is an ongoing phenomenon that manifests itself through the persistent change in the statistical behavior of climatic variables. Although no critical values and thresholds exist in Minnesota, the following indicators represent rare and/or uncharted territory in Hennepin County, and would indicate climate change mileposts: • February ice -out, Lake Minnetonka; earliest on record is March 11, 1878 • Lack of zero or colder temperature at MSP; has not happened yet, and fewest such readings was two in 2001-02 • Winter average temperature above 27' F --has only happened once, during "year without a winter" of 1877-78 • Low temperatures failing to reach -10' F. Previously it was -20' F, and then -157, but it we now commonly fail to reach these thresholds. • No subzero high temperature all winter • Summertime minimum temperatures in excess of 80 degrees • 90' F in March, 70' F in December or February • Tornadoes or severe convective storms at any time from November through February 4.3.1.12. Prevention Preventing climate change requires global coordination and massively reducing the amount of coal, oil, and natural gas burnt for personal, municipal, industrial, and vehicular purposes. However, in the mitigation section you will find strategies to reduce the effects as well as adaptation examples for the changing climate. Hennepin County has a comprehensive Climate Action Plan that includes ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the county to "Net Zero" (no emissions, or all emissions balanced by reductions) by 2050. While this alone cannot stop climate change, it represents the type of action needed on a larger scale to do so. 63