Dear Governor Holcomb,

State climate planning is critical to ensuring that science-based targets are met to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Across the country about 34 states have adopted or are in the process of adopting a climate action plan, Indiana is not among them. This is unacceptable.

Across Indiana, climate change is already causing extreme heat, flooding, damage to infrastructure, negative public health outcomes, agricultural loss, transportation challenges, and degradation of air and water quality. The most recent IPCC report, released on Feb 28, 2022 states plainly, “The extent and magnitude of climate change impacts are larger than estimated in previous assessments (high confidence).” This means that we must act swiftly and decisively to stave off the worst effects of climate change for Indiana.

I’d like to lift up specific water and air quality issues of concern for my business:

Climate change is negatively affecting water quality in Lake Michigan. According to the EPA, climate change is likely to harm water quality. Warming water temperature increases the frequency and severity of algal blooms, which can reduce recreation opportunities, harm fish populations, and degrade water quality. Increasingly severe and more frequent storms also increases the amount of pollutants that run off from land to water, so the risk of algal blooms will continue to rise. Increasingly severe rainstorms could also cause sewers to overflow into the lake, threatening public health and drinking water supplies. According to a 2019 report from the Great Lakes Commission, “Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline supports a waterborne shipping industry that contributes $14 billion per year in economic activity to the state economy and over 100,000 jobs; a commercial and sport fishery with an annual value of nearly $400 million; tourism dollars from 2 million annual visitors to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and 1.2 million visitors to Indiana Dunes State Park; and recreational boating opportunities that contribute over $2 billion annually to Indiana’s economy.” To protect these valuable environmental and economic assets, our state needs a bold Climate Action Plan.

Climate change worsens air pollution and respiratory illness. Higher temperatures exacerbate ground level ozone, according to the EPA. This problem will only worsen as the climate warms – which spells trouble for major metropolitan areas like Indianapolis which ranked 13 for annual particle pollution out of 199 metropolitan areas and 54th for ozone pollution out of 226 metropolitan areas. Even at low concentrations, air pollution like ozone and PM2.5 can trigger a variety of health problems such as lung irritation and inflammation, asthma attacks, wheezing, coughing, and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses. Additional consequences of a warming climate will also be suffered by vulnerable populations as a result of worsening heat waves. The bottom line is that worsening air quality is also bad for business. According to joint studies from NOAA and the EPA,  “Poor air quality is responsible for an estimated more than 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Costs from air pollution-related illness are estimated at $150 billion per year.” Inaction is bad for Indiana businesses and Indiana families.

My local business calls on you for stronger leadership in rapidly decarbonizing our economy. Our environment and our economy depend upon swift action to address the climate crisis. Together, we must ensure that Indiana doesn’t miss out on the competitive advantages brought by embracing a just transition to renewable energy.

I urge you to begin work on a strong Climate Action Plan for the state of Indiana so that our state might continue to prosper in the face of the climate crisis. We, the undersigned, would be happy to schedule a meeting with you in the near future to discuss our concerns virtually or in-person.

Respectfully,