Climate Change

It was the warmest year on record globally, and St. Louisans also felt the heat.

Missouri applied for the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture after two straight years of drought forced some livestock farmers to reduce their herd size because they did not have enough food or water.

The year in St. Louis’ climate was defined by nights that wouldn’t cool down and a record-setting lack of rain.

“We need to connect the environmental crisis that we’re currently facing with the company’s current and future operations," said a sustainability management professor. "All companies rely on natural assets to some degree, whether it’s clean water, clean air or even disease control."

The fifth National Climate Assessment says a warming climate, increasingly extreme weather and drought are threatening the Midwest’s economy and health.

Traditional farming practices such as tilling and monoculture — cultivating a single crop — have come under fire in recent years for their role in harming soil and exacerbating climate change.

Meteorologists and climatologists often have a tough job explaining climate change to the public, especially in places where audiences may be more skeptical of the science. In the Midwest and Great Plains, strong resistance has pushed some out of the field.

The region’s growing geospatial and established agriculture and plant sciences sectors put it in a unique position to drive the innovations that will help farmers adapt to new climate conditions while reducing carbon emissions at the same time.

Scientists and students at Washington University are using artificial intelligence to tackle social and environmental issues. AI ACCESS aims to use data science to determine how people are impacted by climate change.

The Mississippi River has reached near-historic lows for the second year in a row, which is slowing down shipping and driving up costs for everyone from barge companies to grain elevators.