Cody Smith

Director of Climate Initiatives

Phone: 515-244-1194 x 215

Email: smith@iaenvironment.org

Cody Smith is a climate policy professional with substantive experience in the energy, agriculture, and water sectors. Earning a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University in agricultural communications and political science and a Master of Public Affairs in natural resources and climate change policy from Indiana University, Smith has spent much of his professional career advising local, state, federal, and foreign governments on adopting policies that build climate resilience. Growing up on a farm in the rural Midwest, Smith brings an authentic perspective to the pursuit of a 100 percent clean energy future for Iowa.

Blog posts by this Author:

• Mapping Lead in Water: New Data Show Contamination Risk for Iowa Families

  Lead in drinking water is a critical public health threat for Iowans, and new data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency late last year showed how urgent action is needed in Iowa. Lead is a known contaminant in drinking water, contributing to serious health and developmental problems, especially for children and pregnant women. Read on to learn more.

• Radon in Iowa: The Hidden Carcinogen We Can No Longer Ignore

  When we think about our environment, we often think about our air, our water, and, in Iowa especially, we think about our soil. In terms of agricultural health, Iowa was gifted with some of the healthiest soil in human history. Yet, buried in the soil that has sustained life in Iowa for millennia lays another naturally occurring element: radon. Read on to learn more.

• Iowa's Blazing Temps are Driving Rise in Heat-Related Illnesses

  Extreme heat has dangerous impacts on our health and our infrastructure. Heat waves are the deadliest form of natural disasters in the U.S., and Iowa has not been spared from this growing threat.

• Understanding Iowa's Changing Climate: IEC Launches a New Webinar Series

  This spring, the Iowa Environmental Council and featured expert guests will launch a new four-part webinar series focusing on climate resiliency and preparedness. These webinars are free and open to the public. Read on to learn more.

• Despite Increasing Climate Disasters, Des Moines Pursues Closure of Sustainability Office

  Iowa's largest city should embrace climate leadership, not abandon it. Even as climate disasters and extreme weather increase in Iowa, city government officials are considering closing the Des Moines Sustainability Office, which drives climate progress and action. Here's what we can do to protect a climate-resilient future in the capital city.

• Celebrating Pride is Key to Reclaiming Iowa's Legacy of Environmental Stewardship

  If you were to ask someone from another part of the country about their perceptions of Iowa, it is likely that a history of LGBTQ+ rights and environmental leadership wouldn't make the top of their list. However, for a small state in the heart of the country, Iowa has an impressive history of leadership in both-even if our state has failed to live up to that legacy in recent times. Read on to learn more about the state's legacy of pride and environmental justice.

• Iowa courts have blocked transmission line projects: What's next?

  In 2020, the Iowa Legislature adopted a "right-of-first-refusal" provision for transmission line projects; on December 4th 2023, a district court declared this provision unconstitutional. What now?

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