We have all had the familiar feeling of hearing shocking statistics and seeing unsettling photos of environmental destruction and feeling so small in the face of such an enormous issue. On this blog we have shown you how to make small and easy everyday changes to your life to create a greener lifestyle, but have you ever wondered how to be a part of environmental change that’s bigger than yourself? In this post I hope to show you some ways you can take legislative action by pressuring your policy makers to make changes for the betterment of our planet!
The first piece of legislation I would like to bring to your attention is the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Act (MRRRI). The Mississippi river is a crucial piece of the Iowa ecosystem in more ways than many realize. The river not only serves a critical role for wildlife by serving as a habitat for over 780 species and as a migratory corridor for 60% of North American birds, but many are shocked to hear how ingrained it is in our society and economy. The Mississippi river provides drinking water to 20 million people in 50 cities. It is also the center of a $500-billion-per-year natural resource and recreation-based economy employing 1.5 million workers.
The MRRRI Act plans to provide funds to increase climate resiliency and improve water quality by working with state governments, local governments, native tribes, and nonprofit organizations to reduce flood risk by restoring floodplains, riverine wetlands, delta and coastal wetlands and backwaters. This act will also improve drinking water and protect wildlife habitats by reducing polluted runoff in the river. MRRRI also aims to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the river system. It’s for all these reasons that the MRRRI is a great piece of legislation that you can support by telling our Iowa representatives that this is important to you with just a few clicks at this site!
Another great way to have your voice heard is calling on the Des Moines city council to vote yes for an all-electric incentive for new buildings. We all know the harmful effects of fossil fuels, from their production of greenhouse gasses destroying the ozone layer to their oil spills and explosions polluting waterways. This is why Des Moines has already made a commitment to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. If the Des Moines city council votes yet on this all-electric incentive, a new tax abatement structure would be put in place that reduces or eliminates the property taxes owners pay on new construction or major building rehabilitations for years. An all-electric requirement would mean that the building’s heating and cooking appliances would no longer be able to use natural gas to qualify for tax breaks in the future. This is another great way to get involved in pushing Iowa into a more sustainable future. Let the Des Moines city council know how you feel here!
This post would not be possible without the Iowa Environmental Council. Be sure to check out their website for more updates on legislation you should be aware of!
Sources:
https://www.iaenvironment.org/get-involved/take-action
https://mccollum.house.gov/MRRRI
https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2021/11/18/des-moines-property-tax-abatement-all-electric
Images:
https://who13.com/news/metro-news/des-moines-makes-progress-in-24-7-carbon-free-electricity-goal/