The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute was comissioned by the state of Oregon to compile a climate assessment for our state. The report was released earlier this year and is a detailed analysis of the challenges we, and all of the members of our ecosystem, face on our current trajectory. While this information can be disheartening, we can't effectively address an issue that we do not fully understand.
Planning and acting in the best interest of future generations is difficult to do, especially when the challenges we face in our daily lives are also urgent and in need of our attention. Climate issues live at the intersection of economics and culture, we need only look at the history of the timber industry in Oregon–give OPB's Timber Wars podcast a listen–to remember that changes in policy and practice impact individual lives and communities deeply.
If the full report feels overwhelming, reviewing the executive summary will give you a sense of the biggest considerations we face as Oregonians.