Iowa is Vulnerable to Climate Change:
- Agriculture is the biggest contributor to Iowa’s economy, and, according to a Risky Business report, the whole Midwest region will likely face crop yield declines of up to 19% by mid-century and 63% by the end of the century due to increased temperatures and risk of multi-year drought. Unfortunately, only 66% of Iowa farmers believe global warming is occurring, and only 8% of those believe humans play a role in it.
- Over the past 40 years, the Midwest has experienced an average of just 2.7 days a year of extreme heat (over 95°F). By the end of the century, parts of the Midwest, including Iowa, could see that number rise by 75 more days per year.
- From 1900 to 2010, the average air temperature in the Midwest increased by more than 1.5°F, which has already led to lower crop yields as a result of increased extreme weather events.
Iowa Clean Energy Efforts and Opinions:
- The majority of adults in Iowa, 60 percent, understand that global climate change is occurring. 78 percent support renewable energy research and 75 percent support regulating CO2 as a dangerous pollutant.
- The Clean Power Plan would require Iowa to cut power-sector emissions by 41.5 percent by 2030. Iowa is not party to the lawsuit against the EPA and the Clean Power Plan, and plans to schedule a compliance meeting in the fall after the lawsuit makes its way through the courts.
- Iowa generates more than half of its electricity from coal, but over 31 percent from wind, the largest of than any state.
- As of 2014, Iowa had 29 megawatts of solar capacity installed, ranking 29th in the country. The state ranks 33rd in the country for planned solar installation in the next 5 years.