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

Education

Get recognized as a Green Ribbon School in Minnesota!

To be considered for the program, a school will have achieved or made considerable progress toward the three pillars established in the program: 1) energy efficient buildings; 2) healthy students and school environment; and 3) environmental literacy of all graduates.  The combined achievement in these three areas will be the basis for the Green Ribbon Schools award.  Download the application. Applications must be submitted to MN Department of Education (MDE) by February 22, 2012.  For questions about MDE’s application process or program, please contact Jeff Ledermann, MDE’s Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator, at 651-582-8602 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Address Climate Misconceptions in the Classroom

In Will's climate literacy editorial he raised awareness about the importance of educating students about climate change: “Teaching and understanding climate change is a process involving scientific inquiry and educational pedagogy; it is not about politics or partisanship. There is virtually unanimous scientific agreement about climate change." Reading through the comments that follow the editorial, it is clear that there is a lot of education that is still needed.  This presents a great opportunity for educators and students to practice rebutting the misconceptions and denial that still permeates the public. You can read the comments here or download a document we compiled with all of the comments.  Ask your students to choose one and write their response and if you are comfortable with it, send your responses to the Star Tribune or share them with us.

Emerging Leaders

WSF Youth Programs Director, Abby Fenton, has joined an advisory committee for the new development of a Young Climate Leaders Network, a one-year program to support and connect 25 diverse innovators working for climate solutions. The Young Climate Leaders Action Network is designed to forge and support an informal yet highly dynamic network of predominantly young social change agents working for climate solutions and a sustainable economy. The program will assemble innovative leaders and visionaries, including many who operate largely outside of the traditional environmental community. The ultimate outcome for the program will be bolder and more effective strategies for addressing climate change that will equip emerging leaders with cutting edge tools for engaging the public, communicating solutions, and taking winning projects to scale.

Regional Youth Climate Coalition Emerges in the Heartland

Since 2007, WSF has been actively working with partner youth organizations across the Midwest in building a unified regional youth coalition. What began as a loose network of 10+ youth organizations, programs, and initiatives has blossomed into a formal youth network. The Midwest Youth Coalition is working to foster strategic cross-collaboration between youth climate orgs across the region and between states on specific focus areas including coal, tar sands, fracking, agriculture, political engagement and building the clean energy economy. WSF is actively supporting this vibrant coalition through direct mentorship, logistical support, access to policy makers and leaders in the non-profit community, and funding opportunities through the RE-AMP network.

YEA! MN and MPIRG Host Day at the Capitol

YEA! MN is teaming up with MPIRG on a youth lobby day at the Capitol in St. Paul, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 9-2:30 pm. Youth will focus on promoting the Recycling Refund Act which incentivizes and encourages Minnesotans to recycle and reduce litter. They will also show support of a bill that would commit Minnesota to a new solar standard of 10% solar energy by the year 2030. Teachers/chaperones and students grades 6-12 are invited to learn about this important aspect of our political process. More info and register.

Center for Energy and Environment Partners with YEA! MN

The Will Steger Foundation is partnering with the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to educate Twin Cities metro area students about the importance of energy conservation, inspire student-led action projects, and to motivate schools to find creative and constructive ways to save energy. Together the two organizations will engage YEA! MN network schools in a student led energy efficiency projects over the next 6-12 months, incorporating the Minnesota Energy Challenge. Taking action on energy efficiency is one of the most impactful things students can do to reduce their personal and campus carbon footprint. Read more.

In The News

Star Tribune

"Even though I am most known as a polar explorer, my career and lifelong passion has been as an educator." Will Steger publishes an Op-Ed in the Star Tribune calling for climate literacy.

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Camel

Climate, Adaptation, Mitigation, E-Learning is adding more Will Steger Foundation content to their educator resources.

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CEE

The Center for Energy and Environment is excited to announce a new partnership with the Will Steger Foundation to support the Youth Environmental Activists of Minnesota (YEA! MN) program.

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DL Online

Minnesota lawmakers have started using Legacy dollars in ways they aren’t supposed to, and if it continues, that money will no longer be available for purposes that voters intended — extra spending on clean water, the outdoors, conservation, trails and the arts and culture.

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Duluth News Tribune

Will Steger Foundation's collaboration with Fresh Energy is highlighted in a Duluth News Tribune article.

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New York Times

Will Steger is quoted in a New York Times article about a recent kayaking expedition around Ellesmere Island.

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Action!

Ride with us! Climate Ride is a fully-supported, 5-day charitable bike ride, and it's the one and only multi-day charitable bicycling event that supports bike advocacy and organizations working toward a sustainable future. The first opportunity to support the ride is May 19 - 23 from New York to DC and the second is September 9 - 13 in California. We’ll have a team riding in California! Join our work by cycling 300 miles with like-minded people who believe that change starts with them. Here's how you can support the Will Steger Foundation in this year's two Climate Ride events:

• Donate to our team
• Ride for the Will Steger Foundation

Photo of the Month

As part of the “I Heart Climate Scientists” campaign, some of the Will Steger Foundation staff honored the climate scientists whose work and dedication benefits all of us. Upload your photo at I Heart Climate Scientists on facebook, post messages of support, learn more about climate scientists and spread the word!