Two final public forums to share the results of Linn County’s first greenhouse gas emissions inventory will be held Saturday, Aug. 28 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Fillmore Gardens, 520 11th St. NW, Cedar Rapids and Monday, Aug. 31 from 5-7 p.m. at the African American Museum of Iowa 55 12th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids.
These public forums are an opportunity to learn about greenhouse gas emissions in Linn County and make your voice heard as Linn County begins drafting a climate action plan.
Registration is encouraged for each event.
"With these public engagement events, we wanted to meet our most climate-vulnerable communities where they are. We intentionally structured these events to be inclusive and reach audiences that may have not been a part of conversations around climate action in the past,” said Tamara Marcus, Linn County sustainability program manager.
Speakers at the Aug. 31 forum include:
- Tamara Marcus, Linn County Sustainability Program Manager
- Stacey Walker, Linn County Supervisor
- Eric Holthaus, Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Cedar Rapids
- LaNisha Cassell, Executive Director of the African American Museum of Iowa
- Ayla Boylen with Sunrise Movement
- Michael Gardner with Matthew 25
“No one politician, government, or organization can address climate action alone, but all of us can do something. In the end, it will be the collection of our acts – the small and the big – that will give us a fighting chance of leaving a healthy planet for generations to come,” Linn County Board of Supervisor Chair Stacey Walker said.
About Linn County’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Linn County released the County’s first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory earlier this month and now joins the hundreds of other local governments that have completed their GHG gas inventories. The report, prepared by the Linn County Office of Sustainability with assistance from International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - Local Governments for Sustainability USA, is the first step in documenting emission levels and sources of GHG emissions in Linn County and creating a climate action plan to reduce GHG emissions locally. Linn County will use the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory data, combined with input from community outreach efforts, to create a climate action plan. Linn County is committed to making an environmentally just future for everyone by addressing equity issues that are inherent in climate change.
Data gathered from GHG inventories can help local governments make informed decisions on how to rebuild local communities in a sustainable manner and implement climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. GHG inventories are instrumental to local government’s ability to address their community’s needs. This becomes increasingly important as we continue to experience more devastating climate-related events with greater frequency.
View a copy of Linn County's Baseline Inventory of Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report (PDF)
Learn more about Linn County’s commitment to sustainability