Northwestern Now Human health, agriculture, water supplies and ecosystems are at risk without immediate, lasting action April 20, 2021 Illinois is undergoing a rapid change in weather patterns that already has started to transform the state, a major new scientific assessment finds. The assessment foretells long-term, serious effects on cities and rural communities alike from climate change that include periods of extreme heat, increased precipitation and more intense storms, particularly if immediate actions aren’t taken to lessen the threat. William Miller Led by The Nature Conservancy, the report is the first-of-its kind, uniting expertise from 45 scientists, including Northwestern University professors William Miller and Aaron Packman.