Letter from the Executive Director

We had a wonderful donor appreciation event earlier this month. Over 50 friends and supporters joined us for a sustainable breakfast and presentation from WSF staff on our programs and recent accomplishments. Thank you again to those who joined us for this new annual event!

If you pay attention to the rhetoric between those concerned about climate change and climate change deniers, you would think that it is a polarizing issue - that you could predict by political party affiliation which way the public will fall on climate and energy issues. A new poll says this is not true. The majority of people, regardless of political affiliation, believe that addressing climate change should be a political priority and they want their elected officials to do something about it. They are ready for a new national climate and energy policy to emerge.

In other news, Minnesota legislators and Governor Dayton worked together to pass a bonding bill that makes it easier to install solar on schools and other public buildings. This provision will allow public building projects financed by bonding to use 5% of the project cost for solar systems, providing local, clean energy for electricity. Best of all, a "Made in Minnesota" provision will help Minnesota solar businesses to manufacture these solar systems here. This legislation will create manufacturing jobs across Minnesota, especially in areas that have been plagued with high unemployment and stagnant economies. We were really pleased to have played a role in this success.

Unfortunately, there is still significant opposition to efforts to address climate change. We also published a quick response to Congressman Cravaack’s amendment to cut funding for climate change education. Look for our commentary in the Duluth News Tribune this Thursday! You can learn more about this issue and other efforts in this month’s e-newsletter.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

The big news last month was the record-breaking temperature records set in March and the first-ever carbon pollution protection for new power plants.

The March heat wave in the Midwest was one of the most extreme heat events in U.S. history. According to meteorologist Paul Douglas, “the scope, intensity and duration of this early heat wave are historic and unprecedented. And yes, climate change is probably a contributing factor.” Read more in his commentary.

Following the heat wave, the Obama Administration issued draft language to establish the first-ever carbon pollution protections for new power plants.  While the announced standards will limit carbon pollution from new power plants, the EPA is also working to develop standards to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants, and is expected to issue a draft proposal early next year.

Clearly we are seeing increasing evidence of climate change and at the same time are recognizing we need major steps to address it. These carbon pollution protections mark the end of antiquated, dirty coal plants and will spark innovation in clean technologies and create green jobs.

Earth Day is around the corner so we are gearing up for a number of events. Check out our April happenings – we hope to see you at one of our upcoming events and that you have a wonderful Earth Day on April 22nd!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Last month we ramped up our education and youth outreach across the state. Will visited Hawley and Detroit Lakes where he spoke to over 1,000 people about the impacts and solutions to climate change here in Minnesota. Students at Hawley Elementary and High School visited with Will and shared what they are learning using our Minnesota’s Changing Climate curriculum and online classroom.

Then over 80 high school and college youth convened at the state Capitol to advocate for solar and other environmental policies. The video from the event is a delight to watch as youth sing “Let's Use the Sun” to the tune of  Beatles song "Here Comes the Sun".

We also co-organized an event with diverse partners at the University of Minnesota to explore the question “Clean Air: is it the new civil rights struggle?” The event emphasized that everyone deserves clean air and a safe community. Karen Monahan, Environmental Justice Organizer with the Sierra Club concluded, “We all share the same air. It’s all of ours, regardless of the color of your skin or what continent you live on. There is a place for everyone in this movement.”

Read more about these exciting initiatives and more in this month’s newsletter!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

A few articles caught my eye in the Minneapolis based Star Tribune last month. Of course I was proud of Will Steger’s opinion piece on climate literacy, published on January 27th: Will writes “if the nation is to address climate change, it must begin with a public that is climate literate.” You can read the piece here.

Another article in the paper was the new plant hardiness zone map released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), used by gardeners to select plantings that will be compatible with temperatures in their area. The climate change deniers in the Bush Administration pulled a similar map from circulation in 2003 because of the clear northward trend of planting zones. USDA insists that this is not a climate change map but when compared to the previous map, issued in 1990, the warming trend is hard to miss.

Finally, the U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released its Annual Energy Outlook 2012 report, citing that the United States consumed less coal and imported oil in 2011 than it did in 2005. While current emission levels are not on target to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 17 percent by the year 2020, EIA’s forecast shows that new fuel-economy standards are helping Americans reduce their daily oil consumption. Locally, in Minneapolis, the city has experienced a 12.8 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions without cutting electricity use over the past six years. The reduction may be the result of cleaner energy such as wind and solar as well as more fuel-efficient cars. The city is currently revising a new Climate Action Plan.

Read more about our program highlights in this month’s e-newsletter.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Arctic Oscillation Diagram

It’s hard not to notice the lack of winter across most of the country, at least in the lower 48 states. Two weeks ago a January heat wave smashed records from North Dakota to California before spreading into the Northeast. At least 1,500 daily record high temperatures were set during the period from January 2-8, including Minnesota. Real winter weather is just around the corner though, thanks to the Arctic Oscillation. The Arctic Oscillation is a pattern of atmospheric pressure that helps steer the jet stream in the Northern Hemisphere and is transitioning into a new phase. When it’s in a “positive phase” as it has been so far this winter, cold air tends to remain bottled up in the Arctic. In fact, the Arctic Oscillation has been extremely positive this winter, with the Arctic Oscillation index reaching its second-highest level on record, dating back to 1950. This is the opposite of how things were in December 2010 and January 2011, when the Arctic Oscillation was extremely negative and several major snowstorms slammed the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Scientists do not fully understand what influences the behavior of the Arctic Oscillation, but some studies show links between it and the loss of Arctic sea ice, which is due in large part to global warming, and other research suggests that solar activity can have an effect on it as well. Our friend and Minnesota weather guru Paul Douglas was on MPR’s Midmorning show recently discussing our weird weather and more. Listen here.

At a recent school visit in Proctor, Minnesota in early January, Will Steger explained the difference between weather and climate and talked about how he navigated his expedition teams without a GPS unit using wind, the sun, and weather as a guide. Students were surprised to learn how skills he learned as a young child enabled him to survive in the Arctic. Learn more about Will's early observations and journals in our online classroom.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

The Will Steger Foundation blog has a number of great articles by our youth leaders this month. From Midwest Powershift in Cleveland, Ohio to youth led meetings with legislative staff, to preparing to participate in the upcoming United Nations climate conference in Durban, South Africa, a generation is getting to work building their future.

Youth have also been submitting observations to our online classroom for Minnesota’s Changing Climate: "I learned that humans have a huge impact on how fast the climate changes and that everything we do affects the changing climate. I also learned that we can change the world.” "I learned that every living thing has an impact on how the world changes." Check them out in our exciting online classroom!

The Changing Arctic event was a great success last month. Over 80 people joined the Will Steger Foundation and partners for a thought-provoking conversation. The half-day event explored what a changing arctic, mainly an ice-free arctic, means for economics, the environment, diplomacy and security.

We are gearing up for Give to the Max Day this Wednesday November 16th and hope you will join us by supporting our work.

Finally, on December 7 & 8 Will Steger will be talking about his eyewitness experience with climate change and the connection between climate, clean air and human health at two events in Grand Rapids and Princeton, MN. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

This month we are turning our attention to the Arctic, which seems fitting given the recent scientific reports that are being released about the summer sea ice conditions and the important discussions that are unfolding regarding mineral rights, infrastructure, political power of indigenous peoples, and waterway access. It should be no surprise that extreme climate conditions are becoming the norm in the Arctic and that with these changes bring additional challenges for Arctic nations, including the United States. Minnesotans are already contributing to U.S., Canadian and broader international efforts to address the challenges and opportunities of the changing Arctic. To build further understanding of these critical issues, the Will Steger Foundation and the Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis are pleased to partner with the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Institute on the Environment to bring a first-of-its-kind discussion of The Changing Arctic: International Cooperation and Development to the Twin Cities, on October 27. Along with experts from Minnesota, Canada and elsewhere, we will examine diplomacy and international cooperation, economic and social development, as well as education, exploration and science in the Arctic from 1-6 pm at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School.

Our Clean Air Act Defense work continues, despite the Obama administration’s delay to set standards to reduce carbon pollution from power plants and continued Congressional attacks. We are organizing a series of meetings for youth climate leaders and health professionals with staff from Senator Franken and Klobuchar’s offices regarding the importance of a strong Clean Air Act this month. Youth are sending the message that they will make up 22% of eligible voters in the 2012 elections in Minnesota and as young people, they want the Clean Air Act to be protected for their future.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

As the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Dayton continue negotiating a state budget compromise, Minnesota’s nonprofits face financial difficulties from the resulting shutdown. Like many across the state, the government shutdown affects us too. Our Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund project, which supports our Education Program and upcoming Summer Institute, is a major program of the Will Steger Foundation. This means some of our grant funds will be delayed several months, but we believe it is important to not turn a single educator away, especially when our Summer Institute has the highest number of educators enrolled, from communities across Minnesota. Your contribution means even more right to us right now!

For some brighter news, last week the EPA announced the finalized Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which protects over 240 million Americans from power plant air pollution by reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that cross state lines and worsen air quality in downwind states.  The rule requires pollution reductions from power plants in 28 states. See more info here and look for a reaction from Will Steger published in the Duluth News Tribune later this week.

A new survey by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication suggests the urgency of climate change can be communicated if the right people engage local constituencies and explain how human activities are impacting local communities. Our educational project, Minnesota’s Changing Climate, which will launch at our Summer Institute next month, meets this need by taking a local approach to understanding the impacts and solutions to climate change in Minnesota.

In addition to our Summer Institute next month, we are also hosting a free public forum with some of Minnesota’s noteworthy leaders! Join Us!

August 11th: Panel Discussion with Don Shelby, J. Drake Hamilton, and Will Steger, moderated by MPR’s Kerri Miller. The forum, Sense of Place in a Changing Climate takes place at 7:30 pm,  August 11 at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul. The purpose of the free public event is to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on our state’s natural resources and what we as citizens can do through the personal stories and “testimony” of prominent Minnesotans. RSVP now!

Hope to see you there and thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Libby Fones, Education Intern

Christy Newell, Policy Intern

As many of you begin your summer vacation, the Will Steger Foundation is preparing for a summer of learning opportunities. Be sure to mark your calendar for some great events!

June marks the first day of summer and we are definitely feeling the effects of a change in season with the onslaught of extreme weather in Minnesota and across the country. You’ve probably noticed a lot of media coverage on this topic and yet there is confusion around the difference between weather and climate. Kristen has written a great blog about the topic.

Our office is full this summer with two new undergraduate interns – Libby Fones who is supporting our Education Program and Summer Institute and Christy Newell who is collaborating with our Youth and Policy Programs to continue our work to defend the Clean Air Act from congressional attack.

We were proud to see that Governor Dayton vetoed a bill in late May that would have allowed more coal pollution in Minnesota, continuing our state’s clean energy path. You can read more about his action and the bill here. As part of our policy efforts, we are going to be focusing on the health implications of dirty air from global warming pollution this summer. We recently collaborated with a health professional and mother of two sons with asthma to participate in a series of education-related events for media and the general public. Coming up next week, Shawna Hedlund, MPH along with Representative Erin Murphy and Assistant Commissioner Aggie Leitheiser will join WSF and Environment Minnesota on June 21st for a Clean Air Green Ideas & Ham breakfast and discussion about the Clean Air Act. Please join us! Read more about the health implications from global warming.

North Pole '86 Reunion Video

Kind Regards,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

We’ve been hard at work this past month defending our key climate and energy laws. We survived attacks on the EPA last week, even though our own Senator Klobuchar voted in favor of two amendments that would weaken the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases, none of the amendments passed.

In Minnesota, the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007, which established Minnesota as national leader in statewide climate solutions, is being challenged at the state legislature. Legislators in both the Minnesota House and Senate are working to repeal the part of the Next Generation Energy Act that requires companies investing in new dirty energy from coal to compensate for the accompanied increase in carbon pollution. We organized a meeting with Governor Dayton and Will Steger, WSF Youth Programs Director Abby Fenton and nine youth leaders (representing WSF’s high school program, YEA! MN and several campus groups). The purpose of the meeting was for the youth and Will to share their concerns for our economy and environment and desire to move Minnesota towards a cleaner energy economy. The Governor was clearly moved by their passion and insistence that Minnesota cannot backslide on its transition away from coal.

We were also added to the National Geographic Global Action Atlas giving platform to increase the opportunities where people can learn and support our work. Additionally, after a year-long process, we finally meet the Charity Review Council’s accountability standards for transparent and accountable practices. You can view our profile here.

Earth Day and the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are just around the corner. The National Environmental Education Foundation sponsors Earth Week every year, and this year the focus is on the world’s oceans, with unique resources on our oceans and the deepwater oil spill. We encourage you to get outside and do something for the planet this month! Check out many of the events we have in the coming weeks.

Kind Regards,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director