Members of a White House task force to address climate change met in Des Moines following previous gatherings in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. The group is composed of federal officials, eight governors, and various local and tribal leaders. Co-chair Mike Boots, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the task force will be submitting new recommendations to the President in the fall — outlining how best to work with local governments in combatting climate change.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said climate change is already affecting farmers in the Midwest.

He said that contributes to the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Federal officials said they’re developing better emergency communications with local governments and are working on an initiative for scientific data related to climate change to be available to the public. The group met at the World Food Prize Building in downtown Des Moines. Task force discussions were closed to the public, but members addressed the media at a news conference.