Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a package of climate-related bills this week, putting into motion plans state leaders say will set Michigan apart from other states in energy, job creation and more.

"If climate change isn’t stopped soon, the impacts of the change will become much worse in Michigan."

DETROIT – Today is the start of meteorological spring (astronomical spring, formally called the vernal equinox, begins March 20). For climatological purposes, we use the calendar months of March, April and May for our spring statistics, and global warming is having an impact on those stats. Check out this short video (above) -- it’s less than a minute and won’t waste your time. Trust me: I’ve received plenty of it over the years (some of it so untrue, misleading and sensationalistic that it made me angry), and all of it goes into the trash. Related: Climate change explainer: Earth is warming but winters could get worse -- here’s why

This article was first published in the “In This Climate” Newsletter, a periodical newsletter looking at the impact of climate change in Michigan. How is climate change impacting Michigan right now -- and how will it impact Michigan in the future? He has studied weather and climate for decades, and has been reporting on climate change since the early 1990s (before it was on other meteorologist’s radar). UN report : Humans are making Earth a broken and increasingly unlivable planet through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Humans are making Earth a broken and increasingly unlivable planet through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

"Michigan needs to become a leader in transitioning the state to low-carbon energy, and eliminating all forms of greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 or earlier."

Often, we think of climate change as a thing that will happen many years from now. But that’s no longer the case. Climate change is happening right now, and its impacts can be seen across Michigan.

DETROIT Scientific climate data is showing a warming trend in Detroit. The average summer temperature in the region is up 3.3 degrees F since 1970. The Detroit area is seeing warmer summer nights, too. The average overnight low temperature in the region is up 5.5 degrees since 1970. More: Weather Center