Katharine Hayhoe visits Notre Dame to discuss course to mitigate climate change in Indiana
Highlights ways conservation and industry can work together to build a brighter future
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Chip Sutton
The Nature Conservancy
Phone: (317) 829-3915
Email: csutton@tnc.org
Katharine Hayhoe, Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy (TNC), gave a public lecture, “A Climate for All of Us," this past Saturday in the McKenna Hall Auditorium at the University of Notre Dame.
During her presentation, Hayhoe, an esteemed atmospheric scientist, discussed how finding shared values can bring collective action to mitigate climate challenges and build a brighter future for all Hoosiers.
“Climate change is a very real problem impacting Indiana. Over the last several years climate change has brought summer droughts and heavy spring and fall rain to Indiana, which have damaged crops and flooded homes,” Hayhoe said. “In Indiana, The Nature Conservancy has stepped up to address the effects of climate change in cities, farms and forests across the state by creating sustainable solutions to manage storm water runoff, improving soil health to grow better crops and protect drinking water, and implementing strategies to keep our forests healthy and strong.”
We all need to take action on climate change. Hope is not a feeling. Hope is an action.
Hosted by the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative and the Center for Sustainable Energy, Hayhoe’s presentation was done in partnership with TNC.
Watch Katharine's presentation
“Katharine’s visit to Indiana is especially well timed, as our recent polling shows that Hoosiers are understanding the impacts of climate change and want actions now to reduce the harm from it,” said Larry Clemens, Indiana State Director at The Nature Conservancy.
Clemens added, “We’re already seeing change in cities like Carmel and South Bend, which are implementing plans to reduce carbon emissions and move towards sources of clean energy. TNC's work with farmers across the state shows they are adopting measures—such as cover crops—to mitigate the effects of climate change. But we can do more, and we must do more.”
Climate change is already taking a significant toll on Indiana and the Great Lakes region. The heavy spring and fall rains brought about by climate change are creating problems for Indiana farmers, ranging from losing topsoil to getting crops in the ground on time, all of which are affecting Indiana’s $31.2 billion a year agriculture industry.
About Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative
Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative fosters globally significant research in collaboration with community, government and private sector partners to produce scholarship that translates to win-win solutions for emerging environmental challenges.
About the Notre Dame Center for Sustainable Energy
Notre Dame Center for Sustainable Energy researchers make new discoveries, scientific advancements and technological breakthroughs that empower students and faculty to innovate, educate, and influence the world toward a more sustainable energy future.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 76 countries and territories—37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners—we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.