The Local Impact of Climate Change

Scientists Kris Murphy and Sarra Hinshaw will discuss how climate change affects the well-being and economic stability of our community and how we may help build community resilience.

Kane County is already feeling the effects of climate change, and predictions indicate they will escalate, challenging vulnerable groups and community resilience. Climate change impacts the well-being and economic stability of our communities with more frequent and severe storms causing unprecedented damage.

Collectively we have the capacity to bend the climate change curve so that the second half of this century may avoid the more extreme projected impacts. Join us to explore how we may help mitigate climate change through our own actions and how we can build community resilience.

This program is presented in partnership with the Aurora Area League of Women Voters.

Kris Murphy will share sustainability initiatives at the City of Aurora, in particular, the recommendations made by the Mayor's Public Transition Committee for Sustainability and Development. Sarra Hinshaw will update us on the Kane County Climate Action Implementation Plan, which details specific local strategies to reduce emissions and bolster resilience. Each presenter will speak for 15-20 minutes, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

Speakers:

Kris Murphy is an Atmospheric Scientist with 27 years of professional water and environmental engineering experience. She is an Engineer-in-Training (E.I.T.), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P), and Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP). Ms. Murphy is the owner of Confluence Climate Consulting and the founder/acting director of the Chicagoland Green Chamber of Commerce. She previously served on her City’s sustainability board for 4 years and participated in the Mayor’s Public Transition Committee for Sustainability and Development.

Sarra Hinshaw earned her PhD from Griffith University in Australia, where her research focused on greenhouse gas dynamics in agriculturally impacted streams. After several years as an assistant professor and academic researcher, she transitioned into a community-focused career and now serves as the Sustainability Manager for Kane County.

This event is part of Aurora on the Fox, a series of programming throughout 2026 centered on the Fox River. We’ll consider environmental issues, use the Fox as artistic inspiration, gather for recreational activities, and much more. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate, investigate, and connect with our river and the places we share!

Join us in-person at Santori Library in Room 125/126 or virtually via Zoom here. Zoom passcode: Climate

-------------------------------------------------

I acknowledge my participation (or my child’s participation) in this virtual program includes the recording of this program which may include my name as listed on my account, images and/or video footage. I grant the Aurora Public Library District my permission to use the photographs and/or video footage for any legal use, including but not limited to: publicity, copyright purposes, illustration, advertising, and web content.  
 
Furthermore, I understand that no royalty, fee or other compensation shall become payable to me by reason of such use.

Upcoming events