Climate Change Group Discusses Reducing Greenhouse Gases

MEDIA CONTACT: Jason Marcel, Supervisor, Emissions Inventory, 515-281-4873

URBANDALE – In its first meeting Thursday, the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council set the table for reducing Iowa's impact on climate change.

Established in 2007 by the Iowa General Assembly, the advisory council is responsible for providing recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly for reducing statewide greenhouse gases, while considering the cost-effectiveness of different scenarios.

Council Chairman Dr. Jerry Schnoor of the University of Iowa’s Center for Global/Regional Environmental Research led the first meeting. The 23-member council selected Frank Cownie, mayor of Des Moines and representing local government, as vice chair; and Ed Fallon, founder of Independence Movement for Iowa and representing the general public, as secretary. The council also decided to work with The Center for Climate Strategies, a nonprofit, impartial group of facilitators with expertise in assisting many other states in climate change strategy development.

Five subcommittees were formed and will focus on energy efficiency and conservation, clean and renewable energy, transportation and land use efficiency, agriculture and forestry, and cross-cutting issues, such as education. Each subcommittee will seek additional participation from technical experts.

The subcommittees will meet twice between each monthly council meeting. Both council and subcommittee meetings are open to the public.

The next council meeting is planned for Dec. 12 in Davenport. The council plans to meet in various locations around the state in order to be accessible to Iowans.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides administrative support to the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council. For more information, visit www.iowadnr.gov/iccac/index.html. Council meeting minutes will be posted on the Web site in approximately one week.