New research from Roy Brouwer, a member of the LEAP team and executive director of the Water Institute, investigates economic impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes are the world’s largest freshwater system, covering about 3% of Canada’s surface area. But, they’re responsible for 35% of Canada’s gross domestic product. Many factors currently threaten the Great Lakes, including climate change, and rising populations. These threats could also lead to major economic consequences for the region.
The research team applied a new model to identify how climate change scenarios could impact water security and the economy in the Great Lakes. Ultimately, their findings can be used to minimize impacts of disruptions in water supply on the economy of the Great Lakes.
Read the full Water Institute story. This research was also featured by CBC Radio.
Garcia-Hernandez, J.A., and Brouwer, R. (2020). A multiregional input–output optimization model to assess impacts of water supply disruptions under climate change on the Great Lakes economy. Economic Systems Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/09535314.2020.1805414