A Population Explosion in Brown County? Strategic Foresight Regarding Climate Change

Phil Hauck, Envision Board Member

Imagine Brown County more than doubling its population within the next 20 years. Is that likely? If so, what trends might cause such an influx of new residents to Northeast Wisconsin?

How about a need for fresh water? Or ongoing climate changes that reduce fresh water supplies in other parts of the country, pushing residents to the Great Lakes region to survive? Based on recent experience, that’s not so far-fetched. Furthermore, based on an extensive study of weather and climate disaster patterns across the U.S., including consideration of their long-range trending, two local thought leaders believe such a population shift is far from fanciful.

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