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House Resolution 27 - Introduced
An Act 1of the Iowa General Assembly, on the
2occasion of Earth Day, 2019, recognizing the threat
3of climate change and committing to necessary
4and appropriate legislative action to improve
5air quality, combat climate change, mitigate its
6effects, and position our economy for sustainable
7growth and job creation.
8WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
9Change has found that warming of the global climate
10system is “unequivocal”;and
11WHEREAS, there is “no convincing alternative
12explanation” for changes in the climate other than
13“human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse
14gases” based on the most recent findings of the U.S.
15Global Change Research Program;and
16WHEREAS, research shows that climate change has
17a demonstrated impact on human health and safety,
18including more natural disasters and greater extreme
19weather, causing damage to the Earth’s ecosystems,
20social systems, and infrastructure; increased
21risks of disease; as well as expanded range and
22distribution of disease-carrying insects; all with
-1-1the potential to prompt mass human migrations and
2political destabilization that can threaten national
3security;and
4WHEREAS, the United States economy will decrease by
510 percent by the end of the 21st century according to
6the U.S.Global Change Research Program, if significant
7steps are not taken to address and reduce atmospheric
8warming;and
9WHEREAS, Iowa would be particularly impacted by crop
10failures, disruptions in supply chains, and a reduction
11in agricultural yields due to rising temperatures,
12severe weather, flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and
13drought;and
14WHEREAS, Iowa, producing the most corn and soybeans
15in the United States, could experience a 25 percent
16reduction in yields by the middle of the 21st century,
17a severe threat to the state’s economy;and
18WHEREAS, since 2011, research scientists and
19educators from virtually every college and university
20in Iowa have produced or signed on to eight annual
21statements calling attention to climate impacts
22on the health of Iowans, the threat of increasing
23humidity, the dangers of drought, the multiple
24benefits of climate-smart agriculture, as well as
25designing buildings and communities for the future;NOW
26THEREFORE,
27BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That
28the United States Congress, Iowa General Assembly, and
29the Governor of Iowa commit to taking necessary and
30appropriate steps to mitigate and prevent the impacts
-2-1of climate change;and
2BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
3Assembly is committed to enacting state climate policy
4to plan for and achieve reduction in greenhouse gas
5emissions through a legislative climate action plan
6to meet these goals, as well as to advance a robust,
7sustainable economy marked by the expansion of green,
8clean energy jobs;and
9BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
10Assembly is committed to establishing ambitious
11clean renewable energy goals, timelines, incentives,
12measurements, and public reporting;and
13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
14Assembly is committed to increasing energy efficiency
15by setting targets for energy producers and users to
16reduce costs and prevent energy waste;and
17BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
18Assembly encourages educational institutions,
19public jurisdictions, and other entities to provide
20critical research, educate the public, and engage in
21collaborative projects to achieve net zero greenhouse
22gas emissions as well as to support families and
23individuals in taking personal responsibility by
24developing climate-aware lifestyles, habits, and
25practices.
-3-as/rn
An Act 1of the Iowa General Assembly, on the
2occasion of Earth Day, 2019, recognizing the threat
3of climate change and committing to necessary
4and appropriate legislative action to improve
5air quality, combat climate change, mitigate its
6effects, and position our economy for sustainable
7growth and job creation.
8WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
9Change has found that warming of the global climate
10system is “unequivocal”;and
11WHEREAS, there is “no convincing alternative
12explanation” for changes in the climate other than
13“human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse
14gases” based on the most recent findings of the U.S.
15Global Change Research Program;and
16WHEREAS, research shows that climate change has
17a demonstrated impact on human health and safety,
18including more natural disasters and greater extreme
19weather, causing damage to the Earth’s ecosystems,
20social systems, and infrastructure; increased
21risks of disease; as well as expanded range and
22distribution of disease-carrying insects; all with
-1-1the potential to prompt mass human migrations and
2political destabilization that can threaten national
3security;and
4WHEREAS, the United States economy will decrease by
510 percent by the end of the 21st century according to
6the U.S.Global Change Research Program, if significant
7steps are not taken to address and reduce atmospheric
8warming;and
9WHEREAS, Iowa would be particularly impacted by crop
10failures, disruptions in supply chains, and a reduction
11in agricultural yields due to rising temperatures,
12severe weather, flooding, extreme heat, wildfires, and
13drought;and
14WHEREAS, Iowa, producing the most corn and soybeans
15in the United States, could experience a 25 percent
16reduction in yields by the middle of the 21st century,
17a severe threat to the state’s economy;and
18WHEREAS, since 2011, research scientists and
19educators from virtually every college and university
20in Iowa have produced or signed on to eight annual
21statements calling attention to climate impacts
22on the health of Iowans, the threat of increasing
23humidity, the dangers of drought, the multiple
24benefits of climate-smart agriculture, as well as
25designing buildings and communities for the future;NOW
26THEREFORE,
27BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That
28the United States Congress, Iowa General Assembly, and
29the Governor of Iowa commit to taking necessary and
30appropriate steps to mitigate and prevent the impacts
-2-1of climate change;and
2BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
3Assembly is committed to enacting state climate policy
4to plan for and achieve reduction in greenhouse gas
5emissions through a legislative climate action plan
6to meet these goals, as well as to advance a robust,
7sustainable economy marked by the expansion of green,
8clean energy jobs;and
9BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
10Assembly is committed to establishing ambitious
11clean renewable energy goals, timelines, incentives,
12measurements, and public reporting;and
13BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
14Assembly is committed to increasing energy efficiency
15by setting targets for energy producers and users to
16reduce costs and prevent energy waste;and
17BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa General
18Assembly encourages educational institutions,
19public jurisdictions, and other entities to provide
20critical research, educate the public, and engage in
21collaborative projects to achieve net zero greenhouse
22gas emissions as well as to support families and
23individuals in taking personal responsibility by
24developing climate-aware lifestyles, habits, and
25practices.
-3-as/rn