Wake up call regarding climate change in Minnesota

A report on Minnesota Public Radio, "Climate Change in Minnesota: More heat, more big storms", clearly indicated reason to be alarmed at our rapidly warming state and increasingly intense storms.  A few quick take aways:

• This past century the state has warmed two degrees, and in some parts three degrees, with Minnesota winters warming faster than all of the other states.
• The growing season is several weeks longer than it was in the 1970's.
• There is has been an increase of 37 percent in the number of large rainfalls over the past 50 years, with many being the largest on record.

Many might be happy to see our cold winters becoming more mild.  However as the report indicates, this also dramatically impacts the wildlife, trees and plants which are native to this region. 

Changing behavior takes more than information

Information alone doesn't change behavior.  I was reminded of this reading today's StarTribune.  In one article "UN climate panel says emissions need to drop to zero this century to keep warming in check", we were reminded of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change, and how critical it is for the long-term survival of humans we reduce our emissions.

Elsewhere in the business section an article on the impact of low gas prices references a car sales manager who says "Right now, gas mileage is not that much of an issue for consumer choice".

Unless we create financial incentives for people/countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions it may never happen.

Creation care is of growing concern for Evangelicals

Caring about God’s creation and caring about God’s people is entirely consistent with caring for your neighbor.

 - -Katharine Hayhoe, Texas Tech University climate scientist and evangelical Christian

Religious conservatives have become increasingly aware of the treat of climate change and are supporting efforts by the Environmental Pollution Agency to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. (Religious Conservatives Embrace Proposed E.P.A. Rules).

Climate scientist may have his day in court

Having faced considerable ridicule about his "hockey stick" graph, which indicated a rapid increase in climate change, climate scientist Michael Mann's defamation suit against National Review Online and the Competitive Enterprise Institute is going forward. ("Climate scientist wins an early victory against a long-running smear campaign")

The art of smearing others has risen to new levels, given the ease of communication made available through the internet and social media.  Let's hope a damper can be put on mistruths that are so rapidly propagated on the web.

Fighting desertification and climate change

A fascinating Ted talk by Allan Savory, How to fight desertification and reverse climate change, suggests we should introduce large herds of cattle to the vast areas of bare ground across the world.

In the US it is estimated there were between 30 - 200 million bison on the prairies (American Buffalo: Spirit of a Nation).   Makes me wonder if we might reintroduce buffalo, in a big way, to our prairie regions that have become barren.

It seems that there is some interest by hunters in Montana to reintroducing wild herds of bison, Bringing back bison, but this movement is facing opposition by ranchers.

Climate change and wetter springs

During yesterday's drive down to Luther College, located in Decorah, Iowa, I noticed that many of the farmer's fields in Southern Minnesota had only recently been planted, while others showed no indication of crop growth.  This spring has been so wet it hasn't been afforded farmers a window of opportunity to plant. Many will not be eligible for crop insurance coverage for their corn, since it would have already needed to be planted by now in oder to have a good chance of maturing by fall.

More information about climate change and its impact on agriculture is available from an article by Dr. Gene Takle, Iowa State's Takle addresses USDA on climate change and its effects on agriculture. As a side note, Dr. Takle is a graduate of Luther College and was a national cross country champion while a student there in the 1960's.

Budding tree

Though this is one of the latest spring in recorded history here in Minnesota, it looks like it is finally appearing.  Whew!

No presidential debate about global climate change

Have you noticed how silent both the president of the United States, Barack Obama, and his challenger, Mitt Romney, are on the topic of global climate change?  Seems they're eager to promote big oil, gas and coal, but are talking very little about conservation.

An article in the Bloomberg News, "Romney, Obama avoid climate change stigma, waste air" discusses this omission. It would appear that their big political contributors are making their individual and corporate profits through maintaining the status quo.  This is at odds with the interest of the earth and hence, the health and vitality of future generations.

Besides solar and wind power, some of the environmental matters that should be discussed include increased construction of green buildings (more efficient architecture), mass transit and increased urban and suburban housing density.

Agreement reached at UN climate change conference

A hard-fought agreement regarding climate change was recently reached at the 2011 World Climate Summit gathering in Durban, South Africa. This was a gathering of a 194 member body representing countries around the world.  Some of the developing countries, including India and China, that had previously been exempt from emissions restrictions in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, will, after five years, need to come under the commonly agreed upon carbon emission standards.

India and China were upset with the U.S. and European nations expectation that they come under the same new rules, when they emitted vast amounts of pollutants during their industrial development over the previous 200 years.  They also noted how the U.S. has been slow to adopt green technology.

Wood burning stove

Environmentalist were disappointed with the agreement. They felt it didn't move fast enough or deep enough to stem the release of carbon emissions, which are rising the earth's temperatures and leading to cataclysmic weather patterns. Additional concerns were raised around the lack of penalties and loopholes that could impact effectiveness of the agreement. A voice of concern about the lack of a courageous response to the climate change talks was provided by youth delegate, Anjali Appadurai, and is available for viewing on YouTube. 

The U.S. representatives were worried that Congress might not support the regulations.  The U.S. failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol that most all of the other industrial nations approved in 1997.  

One of the more positive outcomes was the decision to develop a Green Plant Fund to assist poorer nations in meeting environmental standards.  

Further information is available from a USA Today article, Climate conference approves landmark deal. 

Research recommendations regarding climate change

Bird's nest in Redbud

An editorial, "Clean energy is necessary but not free", by James Lenfestey, points to investment needing to occur in order to reduce the United State's carbon emissions.

Research findings on America's Climate Choices is available at the National Research Council's website. Following are some of their observations.

Decisions about the exact magnitude and speed of response efforts will depend on how much risk society deems acceptable. But in the Committee's judgment there are numerous motivations for action, including for instance:

	The faster that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, the lower the risks; and the less pressure there is to make steeper and potentially more expensive reductions later.
	Investments currently being made in energy-related infrastructure and equipment will lock in emissions commitments for decades to come. Enacting relevant policies now will provide crucial guidance for those investment decisions.
	The risks of continuing "business as usual" are greater than the risks associated with strong efforts to limit and adapt to climate change. Policy changes can potentially be reversed or scaled back if needed, whereas many adverse changes in the climate system would be difficult or impossible to "undo".

Changing our carbon footprint

This morning's sunrise

Climate change is very real to a Rushford, Minnesota farmer Jack Hedin.  He's experienced floods that have been devastating both to his farm and those farms around him.  Climatologist have concluded that there have been three "thousand year rains" in the past seven years within the state of Minnesota. His concern about the impact of fossil fuels and climate change appeared recently in the StarTribune.  This article was originally written for the New York Times, "An Almanac for Extreme Weather."

As a farmer relying heavily on tractors and thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, he understands he needs to change his farming habits.  This dramatic wake up call, along with others over the years have me thinking about what I can do on the home front to reduce my carbon footprint.  Ideas include:

1. Be more conscientious about driving only as needed, and combine trips 
2. Walk and bike when I can, to avoid use of the car
3. Do more shopping at thrift stores and continue recycling practices
4. Heat only portions of the house that are in use
5. Explore tearing up more sod in our yard and replacing with garden this spring

Food Not Lawns, is a website that provides suggestions on how to transform one's yard into garden.  Following is some food for thought from Food Not Lawns....

Cool sunrise over pond (13 degrees F)

As you look for places to grow, ask yourself some important, practical questions: Will you actually go there to garden? Will you be inspired by the surrounding space? Will the plants have an opportunity to reach maturity? Will you want to eat the produce? Grow what you love, what you eat, and what you want to look at, in a space that makes you feel healthy and empowered.

I would add one addition to this list of questions.  Can you maintain the garden you grow?

Be the change.