Understanding Iowa's Changing Climate: IEC Launches a New Webinar Series

This spring, the Iowa Environmental Council and featured expert guests will launch a new four-part webinar series focusing on climate resiliency and preparedness. These webinars are free and open to the public. Understanding Iowa's Changing Climate will kick off with a conversation about the relationship between climate and agriculture on April 23 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Participants will learn about Iowa's agricultural landscape and how climate change can impact farms and fields. Laurie Nowatzke, former USDA Midwest Climate Hub Coordinator, will share a special presentation, and there will be opportunity for questions from the audience. You can register by clicking here. 

Understanding Iowa's Changing Climate will provide critical insight into Iowa’s agricultural future as we face unprecedented climate events. IEC staff will discuss how these events play a role in Iowa’s agricultural economy and workforce — comprising a whopping 22% of Iowa’s total GDP. The Iowa agricultural sector has shown vulnerability to climate crises. For example, the 2020 derecho and other extreme weather caused an estimated $45.2 million in infrastructure damage and recovery costs, and roughly $802 million in damage to farms and fields. 

The webinar will also highlight the new Climate Change and Environmental Health map, a web-based tool highlighting more than 45 different environmental pollutants, climate change threats, and public health data points for Iowa communities. This map can help inform local environmental efforts and evaluate populations that are at greater risk for health and environmental challenges. For farmers and agriculturalists this information is especially relevant, because similar mapping tools have recently been removed from federal websites. The likelihood of issues like flooding, fires, and agricultural loss are staggeringly high for the majority of the state, but especially in rural regions. 

The most common impacts of climate change in Iowa include more frequent extreme weather such as storms and tornadoes, more days with extreme heat, and more frequent and increasingly damaging flood disasters. On April 23, IEC staff will discuss how extreme weather can make it difficult to plant, maintain, and harvest consistent crop yields. Farmers cope with field issues every growing season. Unpredictable and unsafe climate hazards can make these challenges even harder to overcome. Concerns such as crop disease, pests, and degraded soil quality create compounded risks, making it difficult for farmers to adapt. This webinar will shed light on pitfalls and opportunities in the changing climate. 

Upcoming webinars will focus on extreme weather, water quality, and community-level infrastructure impacts. Sign up for our email list to receive the latest information, including recordings of the webinars after the live session. 

The climate webinar series events are free to attend, and registration is required. Contact us at iecmail@iaenvironment.org for more information.