This op-ed first published in

Most people who live in Northern Michigan do so because of our love of place. I’m sure we all picture specific places in our minds when we hear Tim Allen’s voice as he highlights the beauty of Pure Michigan — I always think about kayaking and fishing down the Manistee River. However, this Pure Michigan isn’t guaranteed to last forever, because Michigan is not immune from the negative impacts of the climate crisis and industry pollution.

Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns and threats to our freshwater ecosystems are no longer distant concerns— they are here, and they demand urgent action. Yet, as the climate crisis intensifies, federal funding freezes are undermining our state’s ability to combat these challenges, jeopardizing critical research, and the protection of our natural treasures and intertwined local economies.

One of the most significant casualties of these funding freezes is the health of the Great Lakes, which hold 84% of North America’s surface freshwater. Programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), have been instrumental in cleaning up polluted waterways, restoring habitats and combating invasive species. However, funding freezes threaten to stall these efforts, leaving all of our communities vulnerable to pollution, invasive species and the impacts of climate change. This is also an economic issue. The Great Lakes support millions of jobs in fishing, tourism and recreation — industries that depend on clean, healthy water.

Another significant casualty of the funding freezes is climate research at Michigan’s public universities. Institutions like the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University rely on federal grants to study climate change impacts and develop innovative solutions. For example, the Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments (GLISA) program, a federally funded initiative, provides essential data on how climate change affects the Great Lakes region. This research informs local governments, businesses and communities on how to adapt to changing conditions. Without sustained federal support, these programs face cuts or even elimination, leaving hardworking Michiganians more vulnerable in how we need to adapt to more sporadic and intense storms.

Michigan’s state and national parks and forests are also feeling the pinch. Federal funding supports the maintenance and preservation of these places, which are vital for local economic growth, public recreation and our state’s identity. Parks like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Huron-Manistee National Forest are not only ecological gems but also economic drivers for local communities. When funding dries up, trail maintenance is delayed, invasive species management is scaled back, and wildfire prevention efforts are weakened. This puts the environment, public safety and local economies at risk.

The consequences of these funding freezes extend beyond the environment. They represent a failure to invest in Michigan’s future. Climate research, Great Lakes protection and park conservation are necessities and central to our identity as Michiganians. They safeguard our health, economy and our Pure Michigan way of life. By freezing funding, the federal government is abandoning its responsibility to protect our natural heritage.

Michigan cannot afford to wait. Our leaders in Washington and at home must prioritize Great Lakes protection and climate mitigation by standing up to the federal attacks that are dismantling our government and the ability to protect our future. Pure Michigan is not a guarantee, and if we fail to stand up for our lakes and natural resources today, we will pay a far greater price tomorrow.

Nicholas Jansen is Groundwork’s Rural Clean Energy Organizer.
nicholas.jansen@groundworkcenter.org