We wrap up our Water Series with a focus on the impacts water has on climate change, the impact climate change has on water, and the need to build in resiliency for a more sustainable future.
Alicia Vasto, water programs associate director for the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) moved from the co-host chair to the guest chair for this final show in our series. As someone who has supported environmental educators and advanced environmental literacy, Alicia has expertise and experience in communicating the need for urgent action in implementing climate change solutions.
Joining in our discussion is Brian Campbell, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council. Brian’s academic training, teaching, and research have focused on the history and culture of American environmentalism, especially the values and stories that motivate grassroots engagement.
During this series we continue to mention the importance of funding Iowa’s Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund (also known as IWILL). As stated in a blog written for IEC by Rachel James titled Why I Want Iowa to Fund the Trust, “The Trust would fund projects to protect and enhance water quality, increase opportunities for Iowans to enjoy the state’s natural resources and participate in healthy outdoor activities, and promote economic development.”
I encourage everyone to do what you can to communicate with legislators, local public health boards, parks and recreation boards, county supervisors, community groups, anyone you connect with to support funding the Trust. It has been more than a decade since Iowan’s voted in favor of a this and I believe that now is the time to finally fund it.
Let’s continue to do what we can to not only implement ways to improve water quality in our state but also work toward viable solutions for mitigating climate change impacts and building resiliency. Our children and grandchildren are counting on us!
Key Takeaways from our discussion:
- Water quality issues and climate change impacts as seen in weather related events are large & complicated issues that will only be solved through bold policy changes which require political courage
- Changes in our climate are already impacting our water quality and quantity with extreme weather events causing flooding and draughts
- With lower water levels and higher nutrient run-off, the water that remains is less diluted and more polluted
- More intense heat contributes to water quality and quantity issues as well
- A positive path forward is to recognize that we can do things here in Iowa by encouraging more clean energy and climate friendly agricultural practices—these are ways to help solve climate change while simultaneously dealing with the effects of climate change
- We need an “all of the above” approach
- These are big problems that impact all of us and we need public dollars (like what would be provided by IWILL) to make the needed progress
- The public dollars would enable good planning across watersheds with diverse groups at the table
- Minnesota and Missouri have enacted and funded similar trust funds that are helping them with climate change resiliency in their states
- Enacting practices that would improve water quality would also help combat climate change
- We’re all connected and there is a lot at stake!
“We are the first generation to feel the sting of climate change,
And we are the last generation
That can do something about it.”
~ Jay Inslee
“I want you to act as if the house is on fire,
Because it is.”
~ Greta Thunberg
Thank you for listening to today’s discussion. Let’s continue the conversation and learn from each other.