What Climate Change Means for Cedar Rapids

Heat from the sun warms our planet. Some of that heat returns to space, while some of it stays in our atmosphere.

The burning of fossil fuels creates extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which traps heat and warms the earth, like a blanket traps heat and warms the body. Since the mid-1800s, humans have been using fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas to generate energy that is used in our everyday lives for electricity, transportation, and producing goods.

We now know that burning fossil fuels has released billions of tons of carbon dioxide pollution into our atmosphere, making the “blanket” thicker and trapping more heat, while causing the earth to warm and our climate to change. The planet is warming faster than it ever has in human history, but because we know what is causing climate change, we can take action to curb its impacts.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface.

• Solar rays from the sun power our planet.

• When the sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some is reflected back to space, and some is absorbed.

• Gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, trap heat like the glass roof of a greenhouse.

• Those heat-trapping gases are called greenhouse gases.

• The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, put more gases in the atmosphere, which traps more heat and causes the earth to warm.

From record flooding in 2008 and 2016, to the Derecho of 2020, Cedar Rapids has become all too familiar with extreme weather caused by an intensifying climate. To prepare for future natural events, the City developed our Neighborhood P.A.C.T. program, asking residents to Prepare, Act, Communicate, and Train. This program aims to equip every resident with the tools and knowledge they need for any emergency event, including extreme hot and cold temperatures and storms affecting trees — all major concerns for residents of Cedar Rapids.

One of the biggest steps we are taking to prepare for future climate realities is the construction of our flood protection system. Stronger storms will bring heavier rainfalls and intense wet periods; having that system in place today prepares us for the future.

We also know that climate change will impact human health in numerous ways, but there are ways to ease these stressors. For example, following the loss of more than half a million trees from the Cedar Rapids canopy in 2020, the City is responding with an extensive replanting effort. Trees provide our community with shade, protection from winter winds, lower energy bills, cleaner water and air, and more. We will explore these efforts and more in the following pages.

Be prepared for weather events. Get involved with the P.A.C.T. program to understand what to do during a natural disaster. Learn about Neighborhood Resource Centers and find a center near you on page 15 of this magazine.

Make small changes at home to save money. Consider gardening, riding your bike, purchasing a programmable thermostat, and switching to LED lightbulbs. The cost savings add up!

Shop secondhand and send less to the landfill. Look at the contents of your GARBY garbage cart. Could some of that be reused, recycled, or composted? Are there alternatives to single-use products that make sense for you and your family? When shopping for clothing and home goods, have you considered refurbished or thrifted?

Continue learning, and share your knowledge. We’re all in this together. Share your knowledge with others, and search for ways to make your own life more efficient. Challenge yourself, and have some fun!