Data from last year’s Fourth National Climate Assessment revealed Oswego County  could be greatly affected by climate change over the next century.

The assessment predicted that the northeastern United States will experience differences in the lengths of the winter and summer seasons and more intense, less frequent precipitation.

Oswego State assistant professor of climatology Michael Veres explained that Oswego may already be experiencing gradual climate change.

“Global temperatures have been frequently setting records over the past two or three decades, and while it has not been as consistent, the four warmest years in New York since 1895 have been in the past two decades,” Veres said in an email. “Eight of the nine warmest years in that period have been since 1990.”

Veres predicts that Oswego is likely to see more notable effects of climate change in the mid-century, but he also suggested that Oswego should be preparing for these future climate change events. 

“While the shorter winter might have some positive impacts on city budgets, the overall impacts are likely to be negative,” Veres said. 

According to Veres, Oswego’s infrastructure and economy could be at risk due to climate change events. Heavier rainfall and warmer weather for longer periods could lead to frequent flooding, increased runoff and stress on native species in the ecosystem. 

WTOP-10 meteorologist Liam Healy drew similar conclusions from the Fourth National Climate Assessment. Healy said climate change in the area over time will result in changing time frames for seasons and less frequent but more intense precipitation. 

Healy said lakeshore flooding is already a problem in the area. Intense precipitation and constant wind could bring severe flooding, and flood damage could hurt the town’s infrastructure and roads.

“If you start to see more frequent changes in temperature from warm to cold, it can destroy the roads,” Healy said. “This could result in the town having to put more and more money into fixing the roads.”

Veres said Oswego should prepare for these future events. Upgrading and investing in infrastructure to better accommodate severe weather events would be beneficial to the town, he said.

“Policies should be put in place to assist young, elderly and disadvantaged residents in preparing for warmer temperatures and extreme heat events,” Veres said.

In response to the climate change data, Oswego State has taken many steps in recent years to become more environmentally conscious. 

“Climate change is a continual conversation on our campus, driven by our approach to sustainability,” said Oswego State Chief Communication Officer Wayne Westervelt in an email.

Westervelt said climate change is important to Oswego state. He listed events, policies and projects that the campus participated in, including the bike and bus share program, LakerPrint, installing electric car stations and building the Richard S. Shineman Center for Science.

The Shineman Center has many environmentally friendly features, according to Westervelt. The building includes state-of-the art foam insulation and curtain-wall construction that helps seal the building, innovative windows and shades that optimize daylight and energy savings and many more green features. 

“President Deborah F. Stanley committed our campus to being carbon neutral in 2007 when we became one of the first signatory members of the American College and Universities President’s Climate Commitment and created one of the first and most ambitious Sustainability Offices in the SUNY system,” Westervelt said. 

Oswego State is consistently recognized by “The Princeton Review” for its environmentally responsible practices. 

“One hundred percent of all buildings constructed on the SUNY Oswego campus have been and are now built to create healthy and efficient space since the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard was recognized as a global symbol of sustainability achievement,” Westervelt said.

Photo by Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian