Known for its vast cornfields, Indiana boasts a population of 6.8 million and spans nearly 36 thousand square miles.
Changing weather patterns are already adversely affecting Indiana’s economy, which is heavily dependent on agriculture. In 2019, corn production was down 16% and soybean production down 20% compared with 2018, a downturn that the US Department of Agriculture linked to near-historic precipitation. Unfortunately, these statistics represent a developing trend, as rainfall has risen significantly since the mid-20th century and three of the top five precipitation events in the state have occurred within the past five years. In addition to hindering crop yields, flooding threatens Indiana’s infrastructure and residential buildings.
Increasing temperatures are directly linked to the increase in participation as we are also seeing in other parts of the Midwest. Since 1895, Indiana has seen its average temperature increase by 1.2 degrees, and that is expected to become a 6 degree increase by 2050. Between more extreme precipitation events, droughts are expected to accompany the hotter temperatures. These challenges will impact the food and water security of many Indiana residents, and negatively impact their health. Cold-weather events help to control pest populations, and insect-borne illnesses are expected to escalate as the climate warms.
Indiana is still heavily dependent on coal. It is the seventh-largest coal producing state and the nation’s second-largest coal consumer, after Texas. Coal fuels the largest share of electricity in the state: 45% in 2023, although this is a decrease from 84% in 2013. 5,000 megawatts of coal-fired capacity have retired since 2013, and another 3900 megawatts are scheduled to retire by 2028. Meanwhile, natural gas accounted for 39% of the state’s total net generation, an increase from 8% in 2013. 14% of electricity generated did come from renewables, with wind energy accounting for 19%, solar for 2.5%, and hydropower and biomass for the rest. Due in large part to its heavy coal reliance, Indiana is the eighth largest-emitter of greenhouse gases of all the states.
In the void left by state leadership, the Indiana University Resilience Cohort program was developed in 2019, helping cities take greenhouse gas inventories and develop reduction plans. Over a dozen communities and cities in Indiana have developed their own climate plans through the program. In addition to the Resilience Cohort, Indiana University’s Environmental Institute has launched other environmental programs including a Beat the Heat program in 2021, developing plans to help residents cope with extreme heat, and Educating for Environmental Change, providing professional development programs for K-12 educators.
On March 1, 2024 Indiana released its first ever state-wide climate plan. The Indiana Priority Climate Action Plan was developed with funding from the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, and aims to identify near-term, high-priority measures to reduce Indiana’s greenhouse gas emissions. The plan sets targets to get 40% of the state’s energy from wind and solar by 2050, which is below the Biden administration’s goal of carbon-free electricity by 2035.
CREDIT: TEDX TALKS
