Preparing for climate migration: Watch MLive, Council of the Great Lakes webinar - MLive.com

Preparing for climate migration: Watch MLive, Council of the Great Lakes webinar - mlive.com

As extreme weather events escalate across the world, the Great Lakes region is expected to be a relative climate winner with less harsh effects of climate change.

The Great Lakes create a buffer against rising temperatures and foster a region of “climate havens.” While experts expect a wave of climate migration to bring a population boost to these areas in the coming decades, they also warn the influx of people might bring a host of problems with them – sprawl catering to the affluent, spikes in housing prices and congested traffic.

Related: Michigan is a climate haven in a warming world. Will everyone move here?

Following MLive’s series on climate havens, MLive and the nonprofit Council of the Great Lakes Region co-hosted a free webinar on how to prepare for thousands of new neighbors expected come to the binational area around the Great Lakes.

“We can be one of the most welcoming regions in the world, for businesses, individuals and families, but we must do so by supporting sustainable growth while protecting the region’s ecological resources and health so that they are not exploited or put under unnecessary increasing stresses,” said Lora Shrake, the Council’s senior program director for business and sustainability.

MLive reporters Lindsay Moore and Sheri McWhirter moderated the event alongside Shrake.

Panelists included Derek Van Berkel, assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability; Missy Stults, sustainability and innovations director for the City of Ann Arbor; and Amiel Handelsman, a Michigan resident and climate migrant.

The one-hour webinar is available on YouTube or at the link below:

More MLive:

5 things to know about Michigan as a climate haven

Climate havens for plants, wildlife may protect species from extinction if warming limited

TED Talks, global climate summit coming to Michigan this summer

Michigan’s housing market is in crisis. Climate change could make it worse.

Fresh water will draw millions, but Michigan lacks systems to harness it

Michigan must build carefully to protect its lush, green spaces