Research & Reports
What would happen if we did nothing to reduce greenhouse gases emissions? How would various levels of reductions of global emissions affect our climate? What would the climate change impacts be on Chicago's infrastructure?
Dozens of experts and a nationally recognized research advisory committee sought to answer these questions and more, contributing to the formation of the Chicago Climate Action Plan. Download the reports below to read their findings.
Fact Sheets
Ecosystems Impacts (pdf, 2 pages,156 kb)
Health Impacts (pdf, 2 pages, 196 kb)
Water Systems Impacts (pdf, 2 pages, 171 kb)
Infrastructure Impacts (pdf, 2 pages, 216 kb)
Precipitation Impacts (pdf, 2 pages, 466 kb)
Temperature Impacts (pdf, 2 pages, 123 kb)
Climate change and Chicago: projections and Potential impacts
Chicago Climate Impacts Report (executive summary) (pdf, 22 pages, 2.48 MB)Chicago Climate Change Impacts Report Summary, June 2008 (pdf, 33 pages, 800 kb)
Chapter One: Introduction (pdf, 9 pages, 165 kb)
Chapter Two: Climate (pdf, 26 pages, 627 kb)
Chapter Three: Water (pdf, 38 pages, 1.29 MB)
Chapter Four: Health (pdf, 32 pages, 613 kb)
Chapter Five: Ecosystems (pdf, 23 pages, 1.85 MB)
Chapter Six: Infrastructure (pdf, 16 pages, 264 kb)
Chapter Seven: Conclusions (pdf, 9 pages, 919 kb)
chicago greenhouse gas emissions and baseline options
Baseline and Mitigation Options -- pages 1-118 (pdf, 118 pages, 7.89 MB)Baseline and Mitigation Options -- pages 119-266 (pdf, 147 pages, 1.9 MB)
Baseline and Mitigation Options - Summary (pdf, 42 pages, 749 kb)
adaptation to changes already occuring
Quick Guide to Adaptation (pdf, 34 pages, 794 kb)Corporate Risk (pdf, 9 pages, 290 kb)