There is overwhelming evidence that climate change is happening and that it is man-made. America’s leading scientific bodies, from the National Academy of Sciences to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, maintain that human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – are the primary cause of global warming. This has been reinforced by the 2021 IPCC report and the NASA climate change team.
These state-specific trends have impacts on Indiana’s agriculture, health, and quality of life. In Indiana, we have already warmed 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895 with a further projected rise of 5 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050 (INCCIA, 2018). Given the current state and global greenhouse gas emissions, we expect these trends to continue (figure 1).

Indiana’s climate data already reveals increased average temperatures, rainfall, and extreme heat events (INCCIA, 2018). These state-specific trends have impacts on Indiana’s agriculture, health, and quality of life. Already, Indiana has warmed 1.1 degrees F and increased rainfall by 5.6″ over the last century. Given the current state and global greenhouse gas emissions, we expect these trends to continue (figure 1).