ANN ARBOR, MI (AP)-- The University of Michigan and an independent research group have developed an interactive map designed to help local officials in the Great Lakes region deal with climate change.
Headwaters Economics teamed with the university's Graham Sustainability Institute on the project, which was announced Tuesday.
The map provides social, economic and demographic statistics on 225 counties in the eight-state region. It includes data about municipal spending, land use and climate-change characteristics such as temperature patterns.
Information tables cover topics such as employment trends in climate-vulnerable sectors such as farming, timber and tourism. There's also data on local population groups that might be susceptible to extreme heat, including the elderly and people below the poverty line.
The online tool is available free of charge.
