Impact of climate change on winter occupations in Minnesota

Abstract

Background

Climate change impacts everyone, but the warmer and snow starved winter of 2023–2024 in Minnesota has had devastating impacts on people all over the state. It severely limited participation in typical winter outdoor recreational and leisure activities and resulted in unemployment or underemployment of thousands of Minnesotans.

Objective

The aim of this article is to draw attention to the direct impact climate change has on human occupations and suggest ways that occupational therapy practitioners and others can contribute to efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Methods

The author reviewed of publicly available data, news stories, and had conversations with people directly affected by the winter that was unusually warm and dry. This information was then synthesized into this article.

Results

In Minnesota, the climate in winters is changing faster than in summers. The lack of snow and ice, directly resulted in unemployment or underemployment of thousands of Minnesotans. It cost businesses, clubs, and communities untold dollars in lost revenue. Further, thousands of Minnesotans lost opportunities to ski, skate, snowmobile, ice fish, snowshoe, dogsled, and engage in many other outdoor activities.

Conclusion

Engagement in outdoor activities is an important part of life in Minnesota. When climate change interferes with these outdoor activities, it is cause for concern. It impacts paid work, volunteer work, recreation, and leisure. This is of particular concern to occupational therapy practitioners. More must be done to reduce the human causes of climate change.