While climate change is a global issue, ultimately all climate impacts are local. Climate-mediated weather events are affecting communities across Wisconsin with unique impacts driven by local factors such as topography, geology, land use and access to planning and preparedness resources.

The 2021 Monroe County Climate Readiness and Rural Economic Opportunity Assessment (CRREOA) was a pilot effort to conduct a rapid, comprehensive assessment that brought together climate readiness and conservation-based economic opportunities at a county level. This collaborative effort was initiated in Monroe County, with support from 10 local, state and federal organizations. Members of the Monroe County CRREOA team will share the results of their assessment and implications for use of local climate assessments in community climate preparedness.