Iowa Climate Statements fall on deaf ears

You really couldn’t blame them if the theme of next year’s Iowa Climate Statement is “We’re Screwed. Good luck.”

Dozens of scientists from colleges and universities across the state have been signing on to the Iowa Climate Statement annually since 2010. Each installment carries a message about the consequences of climate change Iowa will experience as global temperatures rise.

And every year, our state leaders shrug. They either don’t care or don’t believe climate change is happening. Probably both.

In 2023, Gov. Kim Reynolds turned down a $3 million federal grant for climate change planning, which states could use to make plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green energy jobs, lower energy costs for families, and reduce air pollution.

But the Republican governor said there were too many “strings” attached. You know, like taking climate change seriously.

President Joe Biden took it very seriously. But Iowa Republicans cling tightly to President Donald Trump, who told the United Nations, “This ‘climate change,’ it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion.”

The Trump administration is dismantling federal climate research. Scientists have been canned, and agencies have been slashed. Everybody else must be careful never to utter the words “climate change,” or they will meet the same fate. Renewable energy incentives are kaput.

In the first 2010 statement, scientists went big.

The statement said climate trends in Iowa, including heavier-than-normal rainfall events, would have negative impacts on soil, water and crop production. Climate change would open the door to diseases and crop-damaging pests.

Floods will happen more frequently. Other extreme weather, such as droughts, will be more intense. Rainfall running off cropland and through tile drainage installed to handle more frequent deluges would worsen water quality.

It recommended several policies, including taking “strong action” to protect soil and water quality and directing state health experts to report on public health effects.

These are long-term problems that are expensive to mitigate. Politicians are more interested in the next election.

So, Iowa Climate Statements are aimed at more bite-sized issues. In 2017, it talked about the problems posed by higher humidity. In 2018, the statement was about constructing buildings that can withstand the heat and storms.

In 2021, the statement called for more robust electrical infrastructure proven vulnerable by the 2020 derecho. In 2022, scientists told us about the value of trees. And this year, the climate statement discusses higher insurance costs as companies raise premiums amid a growing risk of extreme weather.

Each year, Iowa news outlets cover the statement. Republican leaders say, “What, me worry?”

So, it’s inform, ignore, repeat. That said, I fully expect the statement’s authors and backers will not give up. It’s too important. And I fully expect state and federal leaders to do nothing. It’s not as important as, say, cutting income taxes.

That “Good Luck” is for our kids and grandkids, who will wonder why we didn’t listen to experts trying to warn us.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com