NEWS

Action needed today to cut global-warming impacts

04/06/2007

By Frank Cowie & Brenda Ekwurzel

Des Moines Register

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, made up of leading climate scientists from around the world, was scheduled to issue its latest report today on the consequences of global warming.

This new report, which focuses on how global warming will threaten drinking-water supplies, public health and food production, follows a February IPCC report that concluded Earth's warming is "unequivocal" and is "very likely" caused by human activity.

Other studies have focused on America's Midwest, and the projections are sobering.

"Climate Change in the Hawkeye State," a 2004 report prepared by Midwestern university scientists, showed what would likely happen if heating-trapping emissions continue unabated. By 2100, Iowa's summer climate would generally be more like that of current northwest Mississippi. Seasonal precipitation would increase in winter and spring by as much as 30 percent and decrease in summer by 10 percent to 35 percent. The number of days in Iowa above 90 degrees is projected to at least double, and heat waves could occur 15 to 25 times a year by the end of this century.

Some climate change is now inevitable. But global warming is not a problem we can simply address by adapting. Reducing global-warming emissions must be our highest priority to avoid leaving our children and grandchildren a world we wouldn't even recognize.

Fortunately, Iowans are beginning to pay attention. It seems every day there's a report about a new cellulosic ethanol plant, wind farm or biodiesel plant. Des Moines recently announced its first LEED-certified building (passing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards), and the state Senate passed a bill creating a global-warming pollution registry to track and lower emissions.

The technologies necessary to dramatically curb global-warming pollution already exist. What we need is the political will to make full use of them. And there is much that Iowans can do to help. Our state's congressional delegation could support such policies as a federal global-warming pollution cap-and-trade bill, increased fuel efficiency of cars and trucks and a national renewable electricity standard, to increase our nation's reliance on wind, solar and other renewable-energy sources.

An analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that a national 20 percent standard — meaning that 20 percent of our nation's electricity would come from renewable-energy sources — would cut consumers' electric bills in Iowa and create 5,100 jobs by 2020 in the state. That's 150 percent more than what coal, oil and natural gas industries would create.

Iowa has been ahead of most other states by passing its own renewable standard, but we can do a lot more by going beyond our current target.

Our state has another major role to play. We already are a leader in ethanol and biodiesel production, and our Legislature passed a bill requiring 25 percent of all fuel sales in the state to be biofuels by 2019. But some biofuels, such as those made with switchgrass or other cellulosic ethanols, do a much better job cutting global-warming pollution than corn ethanol. We need to encourage a more diversified approach.

Although global warming already has changed our environment, there's still time to protect future generations from the worst potential consequences. The city of Des Moines is taking actions that already are reducing emissions — and saving taxpayer dollars. State and local governments need to aggressively promote viable solutions and support research to preserve our state's rich natural heritage and vibrant economy for our children and grandchildren.

FRANK COWNIE is mayor of Des Moines. BRENDA EKWURZEL is a climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world.