How Detroiters are fighting back against climate change

People feel the effects of climate change in Detroit.

Whether it’s flooding in neighborhoods or smoke from wildfires polluting the air, climate change is real. Detroiters across the city are fighting back. The Neighborhood Solar Initiative will use solar energy to help offset greenhouse gas and lets Detroiters opt-in to whether solar is right for their neighborhoods.

This expands beyond Detroit: Michiganders have seen the impacts of climate change firsthand across our state. This impacts all of us.

The state has faced a series of environmental challenges, from devastating floods to the effects of wildfire smoke and rising water levels in the Great Lakes.

• In 2021, Michiganders witnessed one of its most severe flooding events. Excessive rain led to the flooding of freeways, businesses, and numerous homes across the region.
• This event highlighted the state’s vulnerability to extreme weather patterns, which researchers link to the broader effects of global climate change.
• In 2023, residents of Michigan experienced some of the worst air quality from wildfire smoke that drifted from Canada. The haze led to health advisories, cautioning vulnerable populations about the increased risks of outdoor activities.

Detroit’s solar program is a step in the right direction.