In case you missed it, on January 30, the Minnesota Legislature hosted a joint committee hearing on Global Warming. (The hearing is archived here.) Will Steger headlined the event, a polar explorer who has been on a mission to combat global warming after having witnessed the deleterious effects of warming in the polar regions on his expeditions. Steger is about to embark on a new expedition called "Global Warming 101" to continue to document and spread awareness of global warming's impacts. Dr. David Tilman, Dr. Lee Frelich, and Dr. Lucinda Johnson of the University of MN also spoke, diving into some local implications of warming--including the loss of cold-water fish habitat, insect infestations, and deer population explosions--and describing immediate actions Minnesota could take to combat these impacts. They were joined by Archbishop Harry Flynn and Bishop Craig Johnson of the Minneapolis synod, who added a religious element to the call for significant and immediate action on climate change. More coverage of the event is available here.
The event is one of many that has provoked a flurry of coverage on global warming in local media concerning government's changing attitude toward climate change.
In other government news, the MN senate passed a bill requiring that 25 percent of energy in Minnesota must come from renewable sources by 2025. If it passes (and it should, with backing from the Governor and the House), this bill would be nation-leading legislation, giving Minnesota the strongest renewable energy standard in the U.S.
At the national level, Senator Amy Klobuchar has been outspoken on climate change lately.
Meanwhile, this weekend's Wetlands Summit also focused on climate change, specific to its impact on Minnesota's wetlands and prairies.
Finally, the Strib is running a story on the role of religion in pushing for action on climate change.
It seems that not only is climate change in the news in Minnesota right now--it practically is the news. Let's hope the coverage continues--and begins to add focus on sustainable solutions for a greener future for Minnesota.
