Linn County is seeking input from the public on climate change and climate action through a climate action survey. The survey questions are designed to understand how Linn County residents perceive climate change and climate action, how climate disaster events like the August 2020 derecho impact Linn County residents, what climate action residents would like to see in Linn County, and to know which communities within Linn County are participating in the survey.
“Climate action within Linn County should be led by Linn County residents. They know best what climate action will work for their communities, and we should listen to them,” said Linn County Sustainability Program Manager Tamara Marcus. “If we want to build more sustainable and resilient communities, it is essential that we hear about the needs and priorities of county residents and use this to inform County climate action and policy. These climate action needs will likely vary across municipalities and this survey is just one of the tools we will be using to better understand these variations.”
Take the survey.
The survey will close April 2.
Another tool Linn County Sustainability will use to assess the climate action needs of Linn County residents is community partner focus groups, led by Mt. Mercy sociology professor Thaddeus Atzmon. The focus groups will also help determine next steps for climate action in Linn County. Community partners and focus group participants include the NAACP, Linn Clean Energy District, HACAP, Trees Forever, Iowa Renewable Energy Training Center at Prairiewoods, Feed Iowa First, Indian Creek Nature Center, United Way of East Central Iowa, MidAmerican Energy, AmeriGas, Linn County Planning and Department, Marion Alliance for Racial Equity, and the Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling Division.
About Linn County’s Sustainability Department
The Linn County Board of Supervisors created a new position in 2020 to further Linn County’s commitment to environmental sustainability and resource protection. Linn County hired Tamara Marcus in September 2020 as Linn County’s first sustainability program manager. Marcus is leading efforts to recommit the County to a more sustainable and environmentally just present and future and to more aggressively and equitably address issues of climate adaptation.