The Iowa Environmental Council Introduces Climate Webinar Series

IOWA - The Iowa Environmental Council unveiled a new, four-part webinar series focusing on climate resiliency and preparedness. The webinar series, titled 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. The webinar will include information on Iowa's agricultural landscape and how climate change can impact farms and fields. Laurie Nowatzke, USDA Midwest Climate Hub Associate Director, will share a special presentation on her work aiding farmers with climate-smart strategies.  

Environmental impacts to Iowa’s agricultural economy and workforce — comprising a whopping 22% of Iowa’s total GDP – will be a focal point in this presentation. 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. For farmers and agriculturalists this information is especially relevant, because similar mapping tools have recently been removed from federal websites.  

“The Iowa Environmental Council is so excited to engage with our supporters on the climate issues they care about,” says Cody Smith, IEC Director of Climate Initiatives. “Our upcoming webinar on the relationship between climate and agriculture will speak to Iowans who are concerned with Iowa’s food systems. Iowa’s agricultural industry is no stranger to the effects of climate change and severe weather patterns, and this webinar will allow us to explore challenges ahead.” 

Those interested can read more about the webinar on IEC’s newest blog, Understanding Iowa's Changing Climate: IEC Launches a New Webinar Series. 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.

Members of the media: If you'd like a personalized tour of the new Climate Change and Environmental Health map, including how to use it to explore environmental and health risk factors in the communities you cover, please email kohoutek@iaenvironment.org.