GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — West Michigan native Ginger Zee returned home for the 51st anniversary of Earth Day to share a story of how climate change is impacting the Great Lakes. Specifically, she talked about the erosion impacts that so many people are seeing along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
"We know that there are cycles, they are about 30 years cycles of highs and lows on Lake Michigan. We see rapidity of change when we go from record lows to record highs in just seven years. That's what we are talking about. That's a symbol," Zee said.
It's a story that hits close to home for her because not only did she grow up along the shores of Lake Michigan but these were the shorelines that sparked her passion for meteorology.
"My parents have saved to have a retirement home on the lakeshore. They bought it just two and a half years ago. It is also on the edge, like so many homes here. So I have a very close personal connection with this."
Many people still question climate change, even though the science is conclusive, but along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, the evidence is right in front of our eyes.
Zee does not want this story to invoke fear, but rather to inspire action.
"All of us going on a carbon diet will help everything. You want to treat our planet right. We want to be a good steward of our planet. What we dump in this lake, what blooms and the invasive species, those are all topics I want to bring to light."
For Ginger Zee's full story on how climate change is impacting the great lakes tune in tonight to 13 ON YOUR SIDE. You can also find her entire series, It's Not Too Late, on Hulu.
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