Climate Ambassador Program

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Iowa City Climate Ambassadors

It's not too late to prevent the worst outcomes of Climate Change.

The time to act is now.

As a Climate Ambassador, you can help.

Iowa City is taking action. We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and to becoming net-zero by 2050.

Achieving these goals requires all of us to work together: residents in every neighborhood, businesses in every sector, and organizations serving all parts of the community.

As a Climate Ambassador, you can help advance the conversation and accelerate Iowa City's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

The Climate Ambassador training program is designed to inform and empower effective climate change leaders within the Iowa City community. Ambassadors

Learn about climate science and effective climate communication strategies
Meet others engaged in climate action in the community
Build channels of communication between neighbors, community groups, businesses, city leadership and staff, and fellow residents
Act on what they learn through personal commitments and volunteer opportunities, and
Inspire others to take climate action

FAQs

How does it work?

Ambassadors participate in a 10-week training course that involves a combination of online, self-paced learning modules and weekly group meetings with fellow trainees. The first meeting will take place on Zoom, and the following meetings will primarily take place in-person at various City facilities.

At the meetings, staff from the Climate Action and Outreach Division of Iowa City go into more depth about the material covered and encourage conversation between the ambassadors to share insights and reflect on what they are learning.

Throughout the training, ambassadors will develop a toolkit they can use to help community organizations they are active in create climate action plans of their own. Ambassadors will also pack and distribute resilience kits to help implement the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan during the last few weeks of the training. Ambassadors can expect to spend 1-2 hours per week on training activities, in addition to attending the meetings.

When is the next training?

Where will the group meetings take place?

When will the group meetings take place?

How much does it cost to participate?

Do applicants already need to know a lot about climate change to participate?

Nope! What matters is your interest and enthusiasm. Every individual is at a different place in the climate journey. Some applicants may be very familiar with the science of climate change already, others may just be starting out. The training is designed to offer something for everyone, no matter where you are at in your journey, and offer opportunities to dig deeper according to your interests.

What are the benefits of participating?

Ambassadors will be equipped with up-to-date information about Climate Change and given the skills to effectively communicate what they learn with others. They will also get in depth insights into the five sections of the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Ambassadors will have the chance to make meaningful connections with others engaged with this issue and will be given opportunities to work together in future volunteer activities. And, every person who successfully completes the training will be given a special lapel pin to let others know they are an official Iowa City Climate Ambassador!

Why is Iowa City offering this program?

We need your help! During week 7 of the training, you will be asked to deliver kits you packed the previous week and have some climate conversations of your own. These are important discussions. Americans who hear about climate change from their own friends and family are more likely to take action to address it. Additional volunteer opportunities will also be made available periodically to Ambassadors who complete the training. Although continued volunteer involvement is not required, we hope Ambassadors will be inspired to continue their involvement with these efforts.

Who do I contact for more information?

How to Apply

We are now accepting applications for the Spring 2026 training session! Fill out the online application here. The application will remain open until Jan. 30.

Training sessions are scheduled once or twice a year, depending on interest, and have a limited number of participants to ensure a quality experience for all. Applicants who are not able to be accommodated in the upcoming training session will be placed on a wait list and alerted when the next application window opens.

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