Northwestern to host forum on faith, climate change and agriculture

A forum on faith, climate change and agriculture will take place at Northwestern College on Tuesday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m. Community members are encouraged to attend the free event, hosted in the Vogel Community Room of the DeWitt Learning Commons.

Northwestern student Joseph Tolsma, a junior biology ecological science major form Orange City, organized the event as part of his membership with Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA), which is sponsoring the forum. Additional sponsors include Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, Environmental Law and Policy Center, and the Center for Rural Affairs.

“I planned the event alongside a few organizations that have been hosting similar forums throughout Iowa,” says Tolsma. “The goal is to de-politicize the conversation about climate change and make it applicable and understandable. It will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to have their questions answered about climate change.”

The forum will feature a number of speakers, including Northwestern biology professor and department chair Dr. Laurie Furlong. Also speaking is Dr. Gene Takle, climate science program director at Iowa State University; the Rev. Joan Fumetti, retired United Church of Christ clergy and former staff of Food Resource Bank; and Dr. Ron Vos, longtime farmer and professor of agriculture emeritus at Dordt College.

Panelists will speak on how climate change is impacting agriculture in Iowa, how farmers are adapting to climate change, and how faith calls Christians to respond.