I’ll start with the good news: Both the Minnesota House and Senate passed our Clean Energy and Jobs legislation last week. The legislation includes a first-ever solar standard and a strengthened renewable energy standard for investor-owned utilities, as well as important efficiency and local power production policies.

In Congress, signs of progress on a few small-scale energy bills are evident, but action at the state level is more robust. Thanks to 29 states with renewable energy standards and more than 20 states with clean energy trust funds, we have doubled the renewable energy capacity in the U.S.

One of our youth climate leaders, Cole Norgaarden, recently addressed a crowd of over 30 advocates working on advancing Minnesota’s clean energy leadership. I was struck by his confidence and articulate comments, especially since they epitomize why our work is so urgent and important. He told the crowd “apologies cannot cut carbon…so let’s prevent the need to say it in the first place.

Letter from the Executive Director

Governor Mark Dayton receives thousands of postcards urging his climate and clean energy leadership.

In his inaugural address, President Obama pledged to respond to climate change “knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” Then, in his State of the Union address, he outlined several clean energy initiatives his administration will pursue to help fulfill that commitment, including a goal of cutting energy waste from homes and businesses in half by 2030.

In Minnesota, Governor Dayton and the Minnesota legislature are poised to continue Minnesota’s clean energy path. Governor Dayton’s State of the State not only recognized Will Steger, but also issued a bold statement of support for a clean energy future and a challenge to the Legislature to take the next big step forward towards a sustainable energy future.

This legislative session we will be working with a broad coalition and Governor Dayton’s administration to support Minnesota’s existing clean energy and carbon reduction policies. We will work to create new policies that allow our state to achieve even more benefits from efficiency and renewable energy, while also ensuring we achieve the state carbon reduction goal of 30% by 2025. We will also galvanize our youth leaders through our Emerging Leaders Program to build a grassroots youth movement that expands what is politically possible.

We look forward to sustaining this momentum for climate solutions through our policy work, youth leadership, public outreach and upcoming educator workshops! Stay tuned for updates on these efforts on our blog and monthly updates.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

2012 was a year for the record books.  It was the hottest year on record in the U.S, the Arctic sea ice shrunk to a record low, Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are now losing three times as much ice each year as they did in the 1990s, and global sea levels are rising faster than predicted.

As the signs of a warming world become increasingly evident, our work becomes even more critical. This is why we are investing in innovative solutions to climate change by working directly with people on the ground – from educators, to youth, to decision-makers.

Our annual report is now available which covers our activities and impact from September 2011-August 2012. In it you will find a host of examples of how your support of the Will Steger Foundation translates into climate action and leadership. The report includes stories of youth leaders taking action on their high school campuses, at climate conferences and in their own non-profits.  There are examples of educators inspiring their students to connect with the outdoors to understand what a changing climate means for their region, as well as engaging them in climate adaptation and mitigation activities.  Finally, the report shows how our elected officials responded to citizen support of clean air policies administered by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the health of our children and families.

2013 will be the year we take climate action seriously. On Friday, the third National Climate Assessment was released. In short, this draft report reinforces the certainty within the scientific community that the climate is changing, and makes a compelling case that significant and urgent action is needed to address the root causes. This federal climate assessment projects temperatures risings as much as 10°F by the end of the century if emissions aren’t reduced sharply.

Reducing carbon pollution and switching to clean energy is the way forward. We already have the technology, the ingenuity, and the solutions to modernize our energy system. Numerous polls report a significant rebound in the recognition of climate change by Americans over the last 3 years, particularly among Republicans and the skeptical. Surveys also reflect growing public support for action by Congress and President to address climate change. Surveys also reflect growing public support for action by Congress and the President to address climate change. This is going to be a major year for progress on climate.

Onward,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Volunteers and WSF staff greet guests at the Chasing Ice reception. Copyright 2012 John Ratzloff.

When the New Ulm journal published the headline: Polar explorer, scientist, bishop to address climate change, we knew we were pulling together a diversity of voices for climate action. Our efforts to bring strong voices together grew when we welcomed Bill McKibben and James Balog to Minnesota this month.

This last month was our busiest yet: we successfully completed an eight-city tour of Minnesota with free public forums and hosted several screenings of the new award-winning climate film Chasing Ice. Meanwhile, program staff attended national meetings on climate literacy and youth leadership.

Thanks to your support, we raised over $10,000 on Give to the Max Day in November! Five generous donors each provided a $1,000 match. We thank everyone for making this day of giving so strong for us and for Minnesota.

Our Climate, Clean Energy and Health tour across Minnesota was a success! Between 300-500 people attended each event to learn about Minnesota’s clean energy path and hear Will’s own eyewitness account. Several forums included reflections on faith and creation care. Events included dinner with community leaders, students and elected officials. Participants signed postcards to their local representatives and Governor Dayton urging Minnesota to achieve the state carbon reduction goal of at least 30% by 2050.

Will Steger joined Bill McKibben’s Do the Math Tour, where Will spoke to his own eyewitness experience with climate change in the Polar Regions and encouraged strong clean energy leadership from Governor Dayton. Hear Will’s remarks here.

A week later we hosted James Balog for the Minnesota premiere of his new film, Chasing Ice. Chasing Ice tells the story of Balog’s effort to capture time-lapse photography of melting ice. Climate impacts are often hard for us to see, which is why the eyewitness account is so powerful. Through the Extreme Ice Survey technology, Balog could speed up photographs taken over many months and years, allowing us to visually see ice melting around the globe. The film is playing through Thursday at the Uptown theater. We encourage you to spread the word and see it!

We are certainly feeling the power and energy of the past month. As we look towards the close of the year, we take stock of the changing climate, which has hit Minnesota and the U.S. especially hard this year. But with the incredible energy, dedication and passion behind all of us, together, we can meet this challenge head on into a better future.

Please support the Will Steger Foundation with a year-end contribution!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Image credit: GOES satellite image provided by NASA. Hurricane Sandy churns off the East Coast on Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012.

In his acceptance speech last week, President Obama clearly stated: "We want our children to live in an America…that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.” With those words and another election behind us, we have the opportunity to not just message the reality and urgency of climate change, but to move forward with a clean energy and clean air agenda that protects health; creates jobs; secures our energy future through clean energy investments; and addresses climate change.

We had a powerful reminder in late October with Hurricane Sandy that climate change is real and will have an impact on all of us. As eyewitness to this devastation, New York City Mayor Bloomberg stated, “we are going to continue to experience the ramifications of a changing climate.” The costs of inaction are far greater than the costs of addressing climate change.

Give To The Max - November 15, 2012
The eyewitness to climate change experience is exactly what called Will Steger into action in 2006 when he established the Will Steger Foundation. We continue to work tirelessly to educate, inspire and empower people to engage in solutions to climate change. Mark your calendar for Give to the Max Day on November 15th. You can schedule your donation ahead of time. Your donation will count towards a generous matching grant, which means your gift goes twice as far, and could help us win an additional $1,000! Your gift to Will Steger Foundation through Give to the Max Day will help build a clean-energy future!

Last month Will Steger had the opportunity to talk at a public hearing before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission about phasing out two coal plants. Will emphasized the current impacts of climate change. In his remarks, he said firmly: “we are denying our children a future by denying the obvious climate disruptions around the world – including the droughts, floods and fires that we are now experiencing and paying for in Minnesota. As part of our climate and energy education effort at WSF, I travel around the state and talk to thousands of Minnesotans – many of them conservative. The message I get is that our people expect leadership in clean energy and jobs. Clean energy sources will create more jobs and keep more of our energy dollars at home. It is also the responsible decision for our children’s future.”

Starting November 10th and continuing through December 9th, Will Steger will share this message with thousands of Minnesotans through free public forums. Join us at one of these events or help us spread the word!

We are excited to welcome Megan Van Loh to our team as Administrative Coordinator. Finally, thank you to all our past and new supporters that joined our call to action to help us earn the Pohlad Challenge grant. We did it! We raised over $5,000 from people like you and will be able to receive the Pohlad Family Foundation challenge grant. Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

The central challenge of the 21st century is creating an energy system that enables economic growth without irreversible climate change. While climate change continues, we do have a maturing clean energy industry. Back in 2004, for instance, global investment in clean energy totaled $53 billion, but that figure ballooned to $280 billion in 2011, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Clean energy has set new records every year since 2004, showing growth even during the recession.

Renewable energy is becoming a significant part of the energy mix here in the U.S. For instance, in Iowa and South Dakota, wind power now provides more than 20% of the state’s electricity demand and here in Minnesota it has grown from 4% to over 10%. And on one windy day in October last year, Xcel Energy used wind power to supply more than 50% of its power load in Colorado. Renewable energy’s role in state and national energy mixes has never been more strongly recognized.

Starting next month, Will Steger will join Fresh Energy’s J. Drake Hamilton for a series of free public forums across Minnesota that explores the topics of clean energy, climate and health. Join us! Learn more about our exciting fall events in this month’s newsletter.

Finally, thank you to all our past and new supporters that joined our call to action to help us earn the Pohlad Challenge grant. We did it! We raised over $5,000 from people like you and will be able to receive the Pohlad Family Foundation challenge grant. Thank you again!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

Earlier this month I biked 300 miles along California’s coast with Board member David Bryan. Among many other things, the ride allowed me to understand a bit more about what brings people like Dave and the other 130+ riders to this issue. I was reminded over and over again why the work we do is so critical to addressing climate change. We are lucky to have Will Steger's unique eyewitness perspective framing our work. No one can tell the arctic climate story as well as we can. No one has the history of connecting educators and youth to understanding the power of our planet and engaging them in opportunities to protect it. Will has been doing this for over 20 years and we have been successfully carrying out this legacy for over 6 years.

We are gearing up for a busy fall – with outreach across Minnesota to educate and engage people in climate change solutions through free public forums. Check out our tour locations and dates here.

Mark Riegel, WSF's new Fall intern

We are also excited to partner with Jim Balog’s Extreme Ice Survey and the Chasing Ice film to co-host screenings Nov. 30-Dec 2nd in Minneapolis. In Chasing Ice, Balog deploys revolutionary time-lapse cameras to capture multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. Stay tuned for an opportunity to see a free screening, meet National Geographer photographer James Balog and more.

We are happy to welcome Mark Riegel as a fall intern who will support a variety of our education and outreach initiatives. A junior at Macalester College, Mark is majoring in Environmental Studies with an emphasis on Climate Change Science & Policy. Outside of his studies, he runs cross-country and track and is just over halfway to his goal of climbing all 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks of New York.

Finally, help us receive a $5,000 grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation challenge grant. Has it been a long time since you supported the Will Steger Foundation? Are you a new supporter? Contribute by October 15th and your gift will be matched!

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

“Climate change is here – and worse than we thought” according to Dr. James Hansen, NASA scientist in a recent Washington Post Opinion piece. In late July, NASA revealed that Greenland’s surface ice is melting over a larger area than they have ever seen. On average in the summer about half of the surface of Greenland’s ice sheet naturally melts. But this year the extent of ice melting at or near the surface jumped dramatically. According to satellite data, an estimated 97 percent of the ice sheet surface thawed at some point in mid-July. NASA used the word “extraordinary” because such pronounced melting across the ice sheet has not occurred since 1889.

While the arctic continues to see unprecedented melt this summer, and the Midwest sees unprecedented drought, we’ve become increasingly focused on how to communicate climate change impacts to the people we work with, mainly educators and youth.

We’ve used the summer to plan our youth programming and public outreach for the next year. Our major highlight this month of course is our 7th annual Summer Institute for Climate Change Education for over 90 educators, made possible by support from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, General Mills Foundation and Aveda. We were honored to host Eugenie Scott of the National Center for Science Education and Dr. John Abraham as keynote speakers; both of whom were able to address the basics of climate science and the challenges educators are facing with teaching the topic in the classroom.

Our fiscal year ends August 31. Thanks to a generous grant from the Pohlad Family Foundation, any new gift made by October 15th will be matched!

Finally, I’m really proud to be biking with fellow Board member David Bryan in the California Climate Ride, September 9-13th. We’ve raised over $4,000 from friends and family to participate in this ride, with all funds benefiting the Will Steger Foundation. I was honored to receive a customized jersey from our staff, Board and other foundation friends which I will wear with pride! I’ll be blogging about the experience (300+ hilly miles) on our website so you can follow our journey.

Sincerely,

Nicole Rom, Executive Director