Iowa Environmental Focus: Recent Episodes
None
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 29, 2022
Extreme weather and natural disasters have caused negative economic impacts and destruction around the world, costing billions of dollars in damage. The effect of climate change has been noticeable in 2022 through numerous natural disasters across the globe.
The summer of 2022 was one of the hottest summers on record around the world and in the U.S. Houston, Texas experienced the hottest month of July on record with one day reaching over 103 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, 100 million Americans were under a heat advisory or warning in July.
In addition to the U.S., Europe also encountered extreme heat and wildfires during the hot summer months. In just one week in July, wildfires swept across Greece, Spain, and Portugal. From January to November 2022, 1.9 million acres burned through Europe. Between July 10-19, Spain recorded 1,047 deaths linked to the record-breaking heat.
In June, thousand-year floods closed Yellowstone National Park after intense rainfall caused mudslides and flooding throughout the park. The landslides caused bridges to collapse and damaged roads. Conditions were so bad that the park had to close for the first time since 1988.
This year’s monsoon season heavily impacted Pakistan with heavy downpours that impacted the infrastructure and strained emergency services. Flooding washed away roads and bridges, making it nearly impossible for emergency personnel to travel to help people. As of October, millions of Pakistan citizens were displaced, two million homes were displaced, and 1,500 people reportedly died.
Many activists and lawmakers are thinking about these natural disasters and others and considering the repair costs that come with the new normal in the world because of climate change.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 29, 2022
An employee of the third largest open feedlot in Iowa pumped onto a field that was too watered with rainwater to absorb the liquid, which resulted in a $2,000 fine, which feedlot owner Brian Wendl paid.
In June, an Iowa resident reported the manure water was being pumped from the feedlot to a stream connected to Middle Raccoon River near Carroll County. Wendl said he was in Tennesee when he heard of the improper manure pumping, but came back soon after to deal with the contamination.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said there were increased levels of bacteria and ammonia in the stream, but no dead fish were recorded.
After agreeing to pay the $2,000 fine, The DNR said Wendl increased vegetation growing in the field to help contain manure water contamination. The owner also said he would create better operating procedures to monitor manure water being pumped into the field.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 27, 2022
3M, a Minnesota mining and manufacturing company, announced on Dec. 20 that it will stop manufacturing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and also push to end using chemicals in its products by the end of 2025.
PFAs are also known as “forever chemicals” because of the duration the chemicals exist without breaking down. PFAs are all human-made chemicals that are released into the air from repellents, non-stick sprays, packaging, and the manufacturing of the materials for about 120 years.
Making these forever chemicals has accumulated millions of wet industrial waste. 3M then dumped that waste in unlined landfills, polluting a large amount of groundwater in the East Metro.
“This is a moment that demands the kind of innovation 3M is known for,” 3M chief executive officer Mike Roman said in a news release. “While PFAS can be safely made and used, we also see an opportunity to lead in a rapidly evolving external regulatory and business landscape to make the greatest impact for those we serve.”
3M said it will stop manufacturing PFA-based products, fluoropolymers, and fluorinated fluid by the end of 2025. The company also said it has already started reducing PFAs across its current products, but it will work to stop the use of all PFAs in products by the end of 2025.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 23, 2022
The Nature Conservancy took out a $2 million insurance policy at the end of November for Hawaii’s coral reefs. The policy provides funding for the repair and restoration of coral reefs after hurricane or storm damage.
This insurance policy is the first policy for reefs in the United States. The first reef insurance policy in the world was in 2019 after hurricane damage in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Since then, different partners have been working with TNC to build a larger and more impactful insurance program.
“In Hawai‘i, we are rooted in the environment; the health of our coastlines and communities is directly tied to the health of the coral reefs surrounding our islands,” Ulalia Woodside Lee, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and Palmyra said. “By investing in nature, our insurance and finance partners are demonstrating its value as a critical natural, cultural and economic resource.”
Coral reefs are an important natural asset for Hawaii and its people and culture. Reefs provide coastal flood protection for people and property worth more than $836 million and $1.2 billion through tourism. But coral reefs are under serious threat because of climate change, which is heightening and increasing natural disasters like tropical storms and hurricanes.
“Managing natural resources is a costly endeavor, and more investment is always needed,” Brian Nielson, Administrator, Division of Aquatic Resources, State of Hawaiʻi Division of Land and Natural Resources said. “It is a step forward in coral reef conservation and will provide vital funding to repair reefs when it is urgently needed.”
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 22, 2022
The state patrol reported responding to numerous accidents and crashes overnight during icy and snowy conditions in Iowa. From Dec. 21 at noon to Dec. 22 at 5 am, state patrol responded to 70 crashes. Four injuries and no fatalities were reported. The DOT said most primary roads are fully covered.
An increase in wind is expected to worsen roads and driving conditions. A front, which came into Iowa Wednesday night, is expected to bring strong winds, with 40 mph to 50 mph gusts on Thursday. The blizzard and snowy conditions are anticipated to continue until Saturday at 6 am.
Andrew Ansorge, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Johnston, told the Des Moines Register that these conditions are occurring earlier than the forecast had predicted. “It’s not going to be pretty,” Ansorge said. Ansorge also said that traveling is deeply discouraged Thursday and Friday.
According to Public Works Director Jonathan Gano, Des Moines plans to keep snow plows on major roads until the snow stops falling. From there, the plow will move to residential streets once the major roadways are clear and the storm ends.
Via Iowa DNRGrace Smith | December 20, 2022
A two-mile portion of the Ocheyeden River dried up in September 2022 during extreme drought conditions and an increase in pumping by Osceola County and the Osceola County Rural Water System. This segment which dried up led to many aquatic lives to die.
“It’s surreal,” said Ed Jones, who owns 90 acres of pasture land that borders the river told the Iowa Capital Dispatch. “There’s no water. There’s no mud. There’s no nothing. It’s just gravel.” Jones, also a supervisor, said that the dry is becoming blatant and worse because a large amount of water from the river is getting pumped by the rural water utility and sold for use in Minnesota.
An extensive portion of the river has become dry several times in the past seven years because the rural water utility has pumped more water from the ground and sold a quarter of it out of state.
In November, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources asked the Osceola County Rural Water System and Osceola County to develop new plants to prevent the rest of the river from drying up even more. The rural utility draws water from shallow wells near the river and the DNR said those wells directly impact the water levels in the river. The rural water utility declined to comment on the Iowa Capital Dispatch article, so it is unclear what the utility’s plans are.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 16, 2022
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Dec. 12 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Biden-Harris Administration are investing an extra $325 million for 71 projects under the second funding pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities effort. Back in September, the USDA gave out $2.8 billion for 70 projects.
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities is a USDA strategy to keep mitigating climate change through agriculture, using incentive-based, involuntary methods.
“I it’s fair to say that farmers, ranchers and producers and forested landowners all across the United States recognize and appreciate the risks and challenges that they face as a result of a changing climate,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said on Dec. 12. “And we also know that far too often, those risks and those challenges impact and affect farmers, small-sized farming operations, and those who have been historically underserved, perhaps a bit harder than others.”
USDA hopes the funding pools provided combined will create multiple positive outcomes.
- The funding will reach 60,000 farms and 25 million acres of land participating in climate-smart production.
- Over 60 million tons of carbon dioxide withdrawn from projects
- 100 universities and 30 minority institutions to bring creative ideas and skills
- Over 20 tribes and tribal groups will lead projects and represent a vast geography
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 15, 2022
On Dec. 5, a National Ignition Facility team at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history to produce more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to operate it. The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration announced on Dec. 13 that the breakthrough by the LLNL will pave the way for the future of clean energy in a way that emulates the sun by generating energy to support life on Earth.
“We have had a theoretical understanding of fusion for over a century, but the journey from knowing to doing can be long and arduous. Today’s milestone shows what we can do with perseverance,” said Dr. Arati Prabhakar, the President’s chief adviser for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
During the test on Dec. 5, the nuclear reaction activated in a small target area released about 50 percent more energy than it took to drive the reaction with the laser. Scientists warn that although this breakthrough is exciting, this technology has a long way to go to stop the climate crisis. The experiment generated 3.15 megajoules of energy from 2.05 megajoules of input from the laser. But, the laser drew 300 megajoules from the grid just to operate.
This milestone alone doesn’t stop the climate crisis, but the urgency to cut fossil fuel emissions will push researchers and scientists to continue this work. A long-term goal for the future is to create a system that can fire constantly and power the laser with energy to spare. Scientists hope in future decades to build a power plant with the research completed and with future analyses to be conducted.
Via U.S. Drought MonitorGrace Smith | December 13, 2022
Although Iowa’s drought conditions are improving since November, they are still the worst conditions in 10 years heading into winter, where the cold season and frozen grounds do not provide soil moisture an opportunity to improve.
“Unless you get into a month like December of last year with the derecho and temperatures in the 70s — you will see some improvement from an anomalous event like that — but overall you don’t really see a lot of change through the wintertime,” State Climatologist Justin Glisan told the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Almost 30 percent of the state is suffering from a severe drought and about 73 percent of Iowa is experiencing moderate drought conditions, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
18 counties in the state are experiencing extreme and exceptional drought conditions in northwest Iowa. Some fields in these counties are also undergoing the worst crop yields in the state. In a November U.S. Department of Agriculture report, only 7 percent of northwest Iowa’s topsoil had adequate moisture.
Despite northwest Iowa’s soil moisture, around 44 percent of Iowa had adequate or surplus topsoil moisture. The state’s corn yield average is still expected to surpass 200 bushels per acre, despite Iowa’s major drought conditions.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 9, 2022
Crews from numerous nearby counties and cities arrived to battle an explosion at an alternative fuel plant, which resulted in a fire, on Thursday. Firefighters and other public safety personnel fought the fire at C6-Zero, while the town’s residents were told to shelter or evacuate the area because of dense smoke. Firefighters battled the fire until 4:30 am Friday morning.
“Anyone evacuated due to the fire can go to the Iowa County Transportation building. Please stay indoors otherwise. A large fire is being fought. PLEASE, NO SIGHTSEEING!” A Facebook post said.
The fire started at 11:16 am. 30 people were reported to be inside the facility during its explosion and fire. As of 2:30 pm Thursday, no fatalities have been recorded by patrol trooper Bob Conrad. Although no fatalities have been reported, several citizens were injured and taken to the University of Iowa and other local hospitals.
The smoke from the fire resulted in thick, murky air. Public safety officials monitored air and ground quality on Thursday. Conrad said safety officials worked together to help contain the threat.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 8, 2022
With thousands of international flights, numerous lighting illuminating the field, and an air-conditioned outdoor stadium, critics say the Qatar Soccer World Cup is environmentally harmful. Several environmentally-cautious professional players wrote an open letter to FIFA, urging FIFA to stop claiming that Qatar 2022 is carbon neutral.
“The tournament has been labeled as the first ‘fully carbon neutral FIFA World Cup tournament,’ meaning its overall impact on the planet should be zero,” the letter said. “But that’s not true… In reality, FIFA’s sustainability strategy for the Qatar World Cup rests on flawed carbon calculations, questionable offsetting practices, and shifting the responsibility onto fans rather than shouldering it themselves.”
FIFA said the total number of greenhouse gas emissions in the Qatar World Cup will be 5.4 million tons of carbon dioxide, which will be mitigated by “low-carbon solutions” in Qatar and the Gulf region.
Restaurants and pubs in France, Germany, and Britain pledged to not show the World Cup on their televisions. NBC said a broadcaster and retired soccer player also boycotted the tournament.
Via FlickrElyse Gabor | December 7, 2022
Bird flu has been sweeping through Iowa and it is here to stay. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the most recent case of the virus was found at a Buena Vista County commercial turkey facility. Around 40,000 birds are in that facility.
Fall and this time of year are when the state sees the most bird migration, usually leading to flocks becoming infected with the contagious bird flu. This was the third case detected in Iowan backyard flocks.
Waterfowl, like geese and ducks, have also been detected with the virus as hunters have tested them. Orrin Jones, the DNR’s waterfowl biologist said, “It’s very difficult to predict the prevalence of avian influenza based solely on waterfowl activity.” He went on to say, “How common is it out there? What types of birds is it affecting? This new strain is affecting a wider range of species and having a wider range of effects than previous strains. There’s still a lot of uncertainty.”
About 53 million birds have been killed by the avian influenza, this year in the U.S. This fall, the pathogen was detected in five flocks, leading to the deaths of over two million birds. Although deadly to birds, the virus is not a significant health risk to humans.
Via FlickrGrace Smith | December 6, 2022
Parking lots where electric vehicles charge is vital in climate change efforts and carbon reduction. A law in France, which was approved in November, now requires parking lots with 80 or more spaces to have solar panels covering the cars. With lots with over 400 cars have three years to ensure half of their lot is covered in solar panels.
All around the United States, solar and renewable energy are being put to use, or a plan is in action. A target in California created solar panel carports or automobile shelters. In addition, Home Depot hopes to run just on renewable energy by 2030, and Walmart hopes to do the same by 2040.
“You have a lot of significant companies that have stepped up and made commitments to renewable energy and similar things with local governments and institutions. So, there’s no doubt that that level of investment has accelerated the development of technology, the deployment of more cost-effective solar,” Bill Abolt, vice president and lead of energy business for infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, told CNBC.
Per CNBC, solar carports and rooftops are currently the main sources of solar energy in the real estate market. To ensure solar energy continues in the right direction, state governments are incentivizing solar energy, including the 2018 Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, and the Maryland Energy Administration Solar Canopy Grant Program. This program provides funding to encourage the use of carports and parking garages. The program has given $250,000 to each solar carport project to continue promoting the use of solar energy in parking lots.
Grace Smith | December 2, 2022 The Mauna Loa eruption on the morning of Nov. 28 caused a 124-foot tower, which collects carbon dioxide measurements nearly every hour for over 60 years, to stop operating Nov. 28. The tracker is not currently gathering data on rising level heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere after the … Continue reading Hawaii CO2 monitor lab interrupted by Mauna Loa eruption
Grace Smith | December 1, 2022 Some of the world’s most major and famous glaciers will disappear after melting by 2050, according to a U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization report. These major glaciers include the Dolomites in Italy, the Yosemite and Yellowstone parks in the U.S., and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. UNESCO observes and … Continue reading Major world glaciers to disappear by 2050
Elyse Gabor | November 30, 2022 Mauna Loa erupts for the first time in 40 years. Located in Hawaii National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, the world’s largest active volcano erupted on Sunday, November 27th, at 11:30 p.m. after large earthquakes that had occurred earlier. Some homeowners in the lava flow path have been … Continue reading Hawaiian volcano erupts for first time since 1984
Grace Smith | November 29, 2022 For decades, a large gas-powered dryer in Muscatine, Iowa, that processes sand that it sells has not obtained updated permits to be able to operate the dryer, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Northern Filter Media, the company operating the gas-powered dryer, has been operating for over … Continue reading Major source of Iowa air pollution has operated without permit updates for decades
Elyse Gabor | November 28, 2022 As temperatures warm, fungal infections are expected to spread outside of their typical regions. Currently, around 10% of infections are found in environments outside of where the fungus grew. Dr. George Thompson, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, Davis, said, “We’re definitely seeing disease in … Continue reading As temperatures rise, fungal infections are spreading
Elyse Gabor | November 21, 2022 As the ice melts in arctic regions, polar bears are pushed onto land. Their territories will now range into small towns. Researchers in Churchill, Manitoba, also known as the polar bear capital of the world, have begun to explore how to detect the animal’s presence in remote areas through … Continue reading Polar bears continue to move inland as ice melts, creating danger for people
Grace Smith | November 18, 2022 Hundreds of thousands of tons of bacteria are being released annually into the air through melting glaciers in the northern latitudes, a study in the Communications Earth & Environment reported. Glaciers melting because of global warming could cause a release of 650,000 tons of carbon a year for the … Continue reading Hundreds of thousands of tons of bacteria are released from melting glaciers
Grace Smith | November 17, 2022 90 percent of counties in the U.S. have experienced a wildfire, a hurricane, a flood, or another form of natural disaster, from 2011 to the end of 2021, per a report released on Nov. 16. The report also said that over 700 counties in the U.S. have encountered over … Continue reading 90 percent of U.S. counties have experienced a natural disaster since 2011
Elyse Gabor | November 16, 2022 As 2022 comes to an end, record high amounts of carbon dioxide emissions remain. According to a report, the Earth has less than 10 years to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals. In 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed by about 200 countries. Although cuts in emissions production have been … Continue reading Carbon emissions have risen since pandemic
Grace Smith | November 15, 2022 The Russia-Ukraine War has released 33 million tons of greenhouse gases into the air, according to Ruslan Strilets, Ukraine’s environmental protection minister. The number of climate-warming gases that have been released is equivalent to adding 16 million cars to the UK’s roads for two years. “Russia is doing everything … Continue reading Russia-Ukraine War is causing large releases of greenhouse gases into the air
Elyse Gabor | November 14, 2022 After a hot, dry summer and fall, drought conditions are retreating in most parts of Iowa. Last week, the Southern part of the state saw heavy rainfall, reducing drought conditions. The most rain seen was 4.3 inches with the lowest amount around 2 inches. The state had been in … Continue reading Rainfall caused drought to withdraw in some parts of Iowa
Grace Smith | November 11, 2022 The U.S. must slow down the use of greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the risk of the threatening of water supplies and and public health throughout the nation, per a federal government release on Monday. “The things Americans value most are at risk,” the National Climate Assessment authors wrote … Continue reading Climate change is threatening ‘the things America values most’
Grace Smith | November 10, 2022 Avian influenza, a deadly virus caused by infection, was confirmed in two more Iowa bird flocks, consisting of over one million egg-laying chickens in Wright County, per an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship report on Monday. The bird flu was also detected in 17 birds in Louisa … Continue reading One million more Iowa birds found with bird flu
Elyse Gabor | November 9, 2022 Harvest season is coming to an end in some parts of Iowa. Despite last week’s heavy rainfall, Northwest Iowa is almost done harvesting as that part of the state continues to face a lengthy drought. In total, around 90 percent of corn harvest has been completed while just under … Continue reading End of harvest season is approaching as state experiences worst drought in nine years
Grace Smith | November 8, 2022 United Nations secretary general António Guterres warned the world at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference on Nov. 7 that the world is headed to a “highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.” The COP27 Summit began on Sunday, Nov. 6, and world speakers addressed … Continue reading ‘We’re on a highway to climate hell,” U.N. Secretary-General says at COP27
Elyse Gabor | November 7, 2022 According to UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, nearly a third of glaciers are predicted to disappear by 2050. These glaciers include Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Yellowstone’s Yosemite, and Italy’s Dolomites. The cause of the disappearances is linked to rising temperatures caused by global warming. The loss of these glaciers … Continue reading Global warming will cause famous glaciers to melt
Grace Smith | November 4, 2022 Temperatures in Europe have increased more than twice the global average rate in the last 30 years, per a report by the World Meteorological Organization. From 1991 to 2021, Europe increased an average of 0.5 degrees Celsius every decade. Earth has warmed 0.18 degrees Celsius per decade since 1981. … Continue reading Europe’s climate is warming twice as fast as the global average
Elyse Gabor | November 2, 2022 This winter, the drought is expected to continue in the Western region of the United States. This news comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which has forecasted that the extreme drought will continue through the winter. The drought has affected Central California the most as … Continue reading Drought conditions predicted to continue through winter
Grace Smith | November 1, 2022 Central U.S. is experiencing the region’s worst drought in a decade, dropping the Mississippi River to record low levels in October. According to the National Weather Service, the river dropped 10.75 feet by the end of October, which is the lowest level ever documented in Memphis, Tennessee. This surpasses … Continue reading Mississippi River experiences record low levels
Elyse Gabor | October 31, 2022 Lead has been found in the blood of fifty percent of children in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to limit and reduce exposure and illnesses caused by lead through screening more children, training people for a job in lead remediation, and so on. … Continue reading EPA comes up with plan to protect children from lead exposure
Grace Smith | October 28, 2022 The world’s governments haven’t dedicated enough attention or promise to bypass the catastrophic climate change effects, the United Nations said in a released report on Oct. 26. This puts the world on course for a 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures by the end of the century. The … Continue reading Current climate plans are not enough to avoid disastrous climate change, UN says
Grace Smith | October 27, 2022 59 percent of corn and 88 percent of soybeans have been harvested by Iowa farmers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture report on Oct. 24. Both crops are ahead of Iowa’s five-year average, with corn being eight days ahead and soybeans being 11 days ahead. “Soybean harvest is … Continue reading Iowa corn harvest is two-thirds complete
Elyse Gabor | October 25, 2022 Bird flu has been detected in a backyard flock in Dallas County. The flock consists of 48 birds of a variety of species. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the infection Thursday, with Iowa’s Agriculture Secretary, Mike Naig saying, “It is not unexpected that we would face … Continue reading Iowa’s 20th case of bird flu found in backyard flock
Grace Smith | October 25, 2022 On Monday, Nov. 7 from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm, Iowa Law is hosting a discussion surrounding the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI). The event will feature policy experts, researchers, industry, landowners, and environmental representatives. Speakers will touch upon carbon capture and storage pipelines spanning across Iowa. HELI will … Continue reading Panel discussion: Carbon pipelines across Iowa
Grace Smith | October 21, 2022 Climate change and extreme weather are affecting the global food crisis significantly. Rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns like drought, wildfires, and floods make it extremely difficult for farmers to grow food to feed the hungry. Samantha Power, administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, spoke on … Continue reading Climate change is a prominent force behind the global food crisis
Grace Smith | October 20, 2022 For the first time in nine years, all of Iowa is undergoing a drought, ranging from abnormally dry to exceptionally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. About 27 percent of Iowa experienced a severe drought and around 7 percent of Iowa was labeled as extremely dry, including portions … Continue reading Iowa drought and harvest, an update
Elyse Gabor | October 19, 2022 Alaska’s snow crab season would be underway, but due to a massive population decrease, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has canceled the snow crab season. Scientists and officials anticipate that the cancellation will help the crab population increase. Cran boat captain, Dean Gribble Sr., who has been fishing for crabs … Continue reading Snow crab population decrease has detrimental effects on Alaska
Grace Smith | October 6, 2022 Long dry periods while waiting for water are impacting trees everywhere, per the “Iowa Climate Statement 2022: The Many Benefits of Our Trees.” Drought-associated tree disturbances have been amplified by climate change. Trees survive by transporting water from their roots to their leaves, and drought disrupts this vascular water … Continue reading Drought and extreme heat’s impact on trees
Floods, droughts, and strong Derechos have become more common and intense weather phenomena in Iowa because of climate change. Our trees are in danger because of these occurrences. The Iowa Climate Statement 2022: The Many Benefits of Our Trees, which was published Wednesday, focuses on ways to increase, and protect rural woods and urban trees … Continue reading Iowa Climate Statement 2022 press conference
Climate change has caused more frequent and intense weather patterns in Iowa, including floods, droughts, and powerful derechos. These events create conditions that threaten our trees. The Iowa Climate Statement 2022: The Many Benefits of Our Trees released today is focused on the climate threats and strategies to expand and support urban trees and rural woodlands. … Continue reading Trees Can Keep Us Cool as Iowa Anticipates Many More Dangerous Hot and Humid Days
Grace Smith | October 4, 2022 25 beaches in Iowa were under a swim advisory this summer because of elevated toxins or bacteria. According to the Iowa Environmental Council, swimming was not advised for at least a week for the two-thirds of Iowa beaches that had a swim advisory. This summer, there were 107 advisors … Continue reading 25 Iowa beaches had swim advisories this summer
Elyse Gabor | October 3, 2022 On Tuesday, October 11th, Iowa Law is hosting a discussion surrounding the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI). The event will feature panel discussions with policy experts, researchers, industry members, public employees, and nonprofit organization representatives. The panels will discuss solar policies around Iowa. Following the guest speakers, the audience will have … Continue reading Solar Energy in Iowa: Policies and Practices at the Municipal, County, and State Levels
Grace Smith | September 30, 2022 Iowans send over 190,000 tons of untouched food to landfills a year—enough to fill dump trucks spanning from Cedar Rapids to Waterloo. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources released a statement breaking down landfills in Iowa and found that 20 percent of all landfilled materials are from food waste. … Continue reading Properly disposing of materials would lessen CO2 equivalent emissions in Iowa significantly
Grace Smith | September 29, 2022 Between Monday and Tuesday, Hurricane Ian became 67 percent stronger, and the water was 1 degree Celsius warmer, because of a phenomenon that scientists call “rapid intensification” by climate change. Hurricane Ian arrived in Florida as a category 4 storm with winds intensifying from 125 miles per hour to … Continue reading Hurricane Ian intensified by climate change
Elyse Gabor | September 28, 2022 Due to climate change and worsening storms and weather, Florida is building a new military base. The base will be the first of its kind, strong enough to face increasing climate changes. The base will be built where Tyndall Air Force Base once stood before it was destroyed by Hurricane … Continue reading Climate resilient military base coming to Florida
Grace Smith | September 27, 2022 A volcanic eruption occurred underwater in the Pacific Ocean in January. The huge eruption near produced a global shock so extensive it sprayed a large amount of water vapor into the stratosphere – enough to fill over 58,000 Olympic swimming pools. This spew of water vapor may cause a … Continue reading Tonga volcano eruption may take temporary toll on climate
Elyse Gabor | September 26, 2022 On Tuesday, October 11th, Iowa Law is hosting a discussion surrounding the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI). The event will feature panel discussions with policy experts, researchers, industry members, public employees, and nonprofit organization representatives. The panels will discuss solar policies around Iowa. Following the guest speakers, the audience will have … Continue reading Solar Energy in Iowa: Policies and Practices at the Municipal, County, and State Levels
Grace Smith | September 2, 2022 Pakistan is experiencing its worst monsoon season in over a decade. Over 33 million citizens have been impacted and over 1,100 people have been killed by the strong winds and increased rainfall that has submerged one-third of the country underwater. Although scientists are still determining how climate change has … Continue reading 33 million affected by climate change-induced intensity of Pakistan monsoon season
Grace Smith | September 1, 2022 California, the nation’s most populous state with the largest auto market, is banning the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The ban, issued by the California Air Resources Board on Aug. 25, aims to impact the fight against climate change. Transportation is California’s largest source of emissions, accounting … Continue reading California to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035
Last week, Crandall’s Beach in Spirit Lake, Iowa, reported excessive amounts of bacteria, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Officials noted the area as “swimming not recommended.” The warning was caused by a large amount of blue-green algae toxins that contained traces of E. Coli bacteria. Due to the recent rains and … Continue reading Swim warning lifted at Spirit Lake beach
Grace Smith | August 29, 2022 Rainwater is no longer safe to drink anywhere in the world because of the large number of “forever chemicals,” or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water, according to a study published on August 2. The rain’s “forever chemicals,” which gets its name because of the duration the chemicals … Continue reading ‘Forever chemicals’ have made rainwater undrinkable around the world
Grace Smith | August 26, 2022 About half a year ago, the Russia-Ukraine War started, which also formed a large environmental toll on Ukraine. Ukraine is one of Europe’s most industrial countries with coal mines, chemical plants, etc. The constant shelling over areas where these industries sit is harming nearby rivers and soil, jeopardizing its … Continue reading Six months of Russia-Ukraine War takes toll on environment
Grace Smith | August 25, 2022 Europe has experienced one of the worst droughts in over 500 years this summer, lowering water levels, which exposed shipwrecks, bombs, and other lost materials. Europe experienced climate change-induced temperatures, including over 104 degrees Fahrenheit in Britain. As water levels drop in Europe, old relics are often exposed. In … Continue reading Europe’s drought-induced rivers reveal old artifacts
Elyse Gabor | August 24, 2022 After excessive rainfall last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that crop conditions in Iowa have stabilized. State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported that Iowa received 23% more rain than usual. Northwest Iowa, which had been in a drought, received substantial amounts of these rainfalls. The rain … Continue reading Rainfall has caused crop conditions to become more balanced
Josie Taylor | August 23, 2022 The water at a Spirit Lake beach recently had the highest concentrations of bacteria detected so far this year at any state beach in Iowa, along with an unhealthy amount of blue-green algae toxins, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. That means the DNR’s weekly test revealed … Continue reading Excessive Bacteria and Toxins at Spirit Lake Beach
Grace Smith | August 22, 2022 More than 100 million U.S. citizens will live in an Extreme Heat Belt by 2053 where at least one day a year, heat index temperatures will reach or surpass 125 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a report published by First Street Foundation, a group that studies and provides climate risk … Continue reading Areas of U.S. to be in ‘Extreme Heat Belt’ by 2053
Grace Smith | August 19, 2022 For years, scientists and researchers have thought the Arctic is warming twice as quickly as the rest of the world, but a new study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment on August 11 found that the Arctic is actually warming four times faster than the globe in the … Continue reading Study finds Arctic is warming four times faster than previously thought
Grace Smith | August 18, 2022 President Biden signed the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, a tax, health, and energy bill on Tuesday. This landmark bill addresses the climate crisis and invests $369 billion in spending and tax credits on lowering emissions to combat climate change. “This bill is the biggest step forward on climate ever,” … Continue reading Biden signs critical bill tackling climate change
Josie Taylor | August 17, 22 State regulators are expected to hold a scheduling conference that will guide the rest of the permit process for Summit Carbon Solutions, which will build about 680 miles of liquid carbon pipeline in Iowa. The pipeline would connect to ethanol plants, where captured carbon dioxide would be compressed into … Continue reading Permit Process Continues for Carbon Pipeline in Iowa
Josie Taylor | August 16, 2022 The percentage of Iowa’s corn and soybeans rated good or excellent declined at least 7 points last week, the largest such drop this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest USDA report said 66% of the state’s corn and 63% of soybeans were good or excellent, … Continue reading Drought Worsens Crop Conditions in Southern Iowa
Grace Smith | August 15, 2022 California hasn’t experienced a megaflood since 1862, but research published on Aug. 12 shows that the nation’s most populous state with over 39 million people is due for another, and climate change could intensify it. California can normally be observed as a water scarcity state with recurring droughts and … Continue reading Climate change increases intensity of likely California megaflood
Grace Smith | August 12, 2022 Corn sweat, a term referred to as plants giving off water through evapotranspiration, is increasing moisture in Midwest air, which is harming crops. The humidity in the air can increase temperatures between five and 15 degrees Fahrenheit over corn fields during mid-July and August. Iowa harvested over 13.1 million … Continue reading Midwest corn sweat, extra air moisture is harming crops
Grace Smith | August 11, 2022 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources confirmed on Aug. 9 that koi herpes killed thousands of carp at Storm Lake in Iowa in recent weeks. Although this virus has been detected in nearby states including Minnesota and Wisconsin, this outbreak is the first appearance of the virus in Iowa. … Continue reading Iowa’s first outbreak of koi herpes kills thousands of Storm Lake carp