Upon arriving back in the United States, I was flooded with relief to be back on familiar territory. My trip to Copenhagen was undoubtedly a long one, but successful at that. Feelings were fixed upon the closing of the climate conference. An international treaty was not established but officials had enough sense to lay the groundwork for the next Conference of Parties (COP) in Mexico, 2011. I was relieved that the issue of climate change was finally being taken seriously but I felt that people weren't moving fast enough!
Slow and steady seems to be the motto that officials around the world use; regardless of whether swift action was called for or not. A lesson to be learned for all those eager for change out there; progress takes time. In the meantime, until the issue of climate change is solved, I will continue to work fruitfully in my own backyard to ensure that the seeds of change begin to grow.
Actively pursuing climate legislation, my home environmental group is revamping our efforts to engage students with the issues that face the Senate this spring. With the health care bill coming to a close, the Senate will now begin to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES Bill). It is of the utmost importance that a climate bill is passed in order for the U.S. to participate in future COP negotiations. My own personal understand is this; our government will never agree to an internationally binding treaty unless we have passed climate legislation first in our homeland. This is why we must all join together and continue to pressure legislators to vote green.
Throughout this semester I will be working directly with NDSU's student body government to coordinate events focused around climate legislation. I will also be giving talks and lectures to the local community on topics such as biofuel, oil-dependency and sustainability. I hope to continue working with grades K-12 in new partnership recently formed with university faculty as well as Repower America, the National Wildlife Federation and the Prairie Stewardship Network. This will be an active time for everyone!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
If We Go Will Others Follow? John Kerry speaks on the U.S. Role at COP15
John Kerry may not have always been a strong supporter of climate legislation but today he didn't let us down. His speech was concise and well-spoken, harping on the positive impacts of American leadership. Kerry's speech made me bubble-over with hope that when President Obama steps up plate on Friday, we can still make great headway with strong American initiative.
Warmly introduced by Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, Kerry spoke of responsibility the U.S. Government and other developed countries owe to the developing countries, holding fast to the old saying "we have a common but differentiated responsibility." Here at COP15, developed countries are particularly struggling to match the financial needs of developing nations and small island states, to which we owe our support after years of unchecked pollution.
Apart from international climate negotiations, Kerry focused on things closer to home as well. He was confident that a climate bill would pass in the Senate early next year while others remain not so sure. But his message today stressed that change would not come quickly. He offered insight to the minds of senators across the U.S. as they approach to climate legislation. Whether the ACES climate bill is passed or not, did not seem to effect Kerry's view of the how the U.S. will progress. "More than 1,000 mayors are taking strict measures to aim towards Kyoto targets--and a number of cities are actually getting close on their own. Across America, grassroots initiatives are sprouting up as citizens lead their leaders," said an enthusiastic Kerry. To the youth in attendance, this was almost as if being called out by name. I personally was thrilled.
This news comes as a reason for hope to many whom doubt the U.S. will take the reins and pull the rest of the world in towards a binding climate treaty. Kerry argued that, "If Dick Cheney can argue that even a 1% chance of a terrorist attack is 100% justification for preemptive action—then surely, when scientists tell us that climate change is nearly a 100% certainty, we ought to be able to stand together, all of us, and join in an all out effort to combat a mortal threat to the life of this planet." I think with this quote I will end, allowing you to contemplate the moral and social demands of this statement.
Warmly introduced by Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, Kerry spoke of responsibility the U.S. Government and other developed countries owe to the developing countries, holding fast to the old saying "we have a common but differentiated responsibility." Here at COP15, developed countries are particularly struggling to match the financial needs of developing nations and small island states, to which we owe our support after years of unchecked pollution.
Apart from international climate negotiations, Kerry focused on things closer to home as well. He was confident that a climate bill would pass in the Senate early next year while others remain not so sure. But his message today stressed that change would not come quickly. He offered insight to the minds of senators across the U.S. as they approach to climate legislation. Whether the ACES climate bill is passed or not, did not seem to effect Kerry's view of the how the U.S. will progress. "More than 1,000 mayors are taking strict measures to aim towards Kyoto targets--and a number of cities are actually getting close on their own. Across America, grassroots initiatives are sprouting up as citizens lead their leaders," said an enthusiastic Kerry. To the youth in attendance, this was almost as if being called out by name. I personally was thrilled.
This news comes as a reason for hope to many whom doubt the U.S. will take the reins and pull the rest of the world in towards a binding climate treaty. Kerry argued that, "If Dick Cheney can argue that even a 1% chance of a terrorist attack is 100% justification for preemptive action—then surely, when scientists tell us that climate change is nearly a 100% certainty, we ought to be able to stand together, all of us, and join in an all out effort to combat a mortal threat to the life of this planet." I think with this quote I will end, allowing you to contemplate the moral and social demands of this statement.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
One degree really does matter
Today was a day that for me, topped all days. It was the official first day of the second week of the climate negotiations and the ministers and presidents of most countries have arrived. Access to the Bella Center here in Copenhagen will be severely restricted tomorrow with over 25,000 people registered to attend. Today was sort of like the pre-game before the Superbowl. The king of kings, MVP all-star flew in on a plane and arrived at the conference today; climate champion Al Gore made his first appearance at the negotiations to supporters and doubters alike.
His first presentation came this afternoon at a side event on the melting of the Greenland ice cap. The Arctic Council put together an analysis of the melting in Greenland led by Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, called Greenland Ice Sheet in a Changing Climate which was presented at COP15. This report was unveiled by Al Gore himself with a team of panelists including Dorthe, the Danish Foreign Minister, Bob Correll, and the Norwegian Foreign Minister. The report will also be released to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change later in the conference.
I attended this side event with Will Steger, the founder of THE Will Steger Foundation and leader of our expedition, who is well acquainted with Gore. Steger worked closely with Gore in the 1980's as he was preparing to embark on his arctic journey but found he didn't have a method of relaying scientific information back to the community. Gore connected Will with the white papers about the internet, providing the opportunity for Steger's expeditions to reach millions of people across the globe. Gore invited Will to testify in 1991 on the melting to the of permafrost that he had witnessed, something scientists didn't believe was possible at the time. They continued to stay in touch throughout the 90's working on various educational opportunities but ran into each other again in 2007 when Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. Throughout the years, Steger and Gore have both worked towards advancing scientific research and education about the effects of global warming on the arctic.
Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Møller, opened the event by stating that he hoped this report would be the "basis for a strong, forceful message to the decision makers at this conference. The message is that the time for collective and immediate action in response to climate change is now." Much of the rest of the event delved into disturbing details on how rapidly the sea ice is melting. The Greenland ice sheet, an ice cube three million cubic kilometers in volume, has the potential to affect the global sea level. If that all were to melt, the sea would rise 7meters. Gore emphasized that unless we reduce our emissions, the rise in temperature will only melt the glaciers faster. One degree really does make a difference.
His first presentation came this afternoon at a side event on the melting of the Greenland ice cap. The Arctic Council put together an analysis of the melting in Greenland led by Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, called Greenland Ice Sheet in a Changing Climate which was presented at COP15. This report was unveiled by Al Gore himself with a team of panelists including Dorthe, the Danish Foreign Minister, Bob Correll, and the Norwegian Foreign Minister. The report will also be released to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change later in the conference.
I attended this side event with Will Steger, the founder of THE Will Steger Foundation and leader of our expedition, who is well acquainted with Gore. Steger worked closely with Gore in the 1980's as he was preparing to embark on his arctic journey but found he didn't have a method of relaying scientific information back to the community. Gore connected Will with the white papers about the internet, providing the opportunity for Steger's expeditions to reach millions of people across the globe. Gore invited Will to testify in 1991 on the melting to the of permafrost that he had witnessed, something scientists didn't believe was possible at the time. They continued to stay in touch throughout the 90's working on various educational opportunities but ran into each other again in 2007 when Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. Throughout the years, Steger and Gore have both worked towards advancing scientific research and education about the effects of global warming on the arctic.
Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Møller, opened the event by stating that he hoped this report would be the "basis for a strong, forceful message to the decision makers at this conference. The message is that the time for collective and immediate action in response to climate change is now." Much of the rest of the event delved into disturbing details on how rapidly the sea ice is melting. The Greenland ice sheet, an ice cube three million cubic kilometers in volume, has the potential to affect the global sea level. If that all were to melt, the sea would rise 7meters. Gore emphasized that unless we reduce our emissions, the rise in temperature will only melt the glaciers faster. One degree really does make a difference.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Impact of Climate Change on Prairie Potholes
Can you think of all of the natural assets in the state of North Dakota? Most people would be surprised at how many we actually have. One in particular that is sparking a lot of debate in climate forums in Copenhagen is Prairie Wetlands. Wetlands serve as nature-made carbon sinks, storing carbon and using water plants to convert carbon dioxide into biomass. These land potholes cover a large portion of North Dakota and are home to a number of waterfowl species, mainly ducks and geese.
Every year hundreds of hunters travel to the state for the wide scope of game that can be found in North Dakota. Annually, $5,040,845 is allocated to the state of North Dakota by sportsmen. These contributions (in the form of taxes paid on firearms, ammunition and state licenses) support the conservation of wildlife populations. Hunters are valued members of the conservation community and should be advocates for strong climate legislation within their home states.
Because the agricultural industry is the largest source of income for the state, many farmers are draining these potholes to create more farm land, leading to the destruction of waterfowl habitat. This is a scary thought considering wetlands are essential to the general wellbeing of citizens as they control flooding, expand biodiversity, mitigate climate change, as well as provide food and water.
Prairie potholes play a role in carbon sequestration serving as natural carbon reservoirs. The magnitude of storage depends upon wetland type and size, vegetation, the depth of wetland soils, ground water levels, nutrient levels, and pH levels. These carbon reservoirs can emit large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere if they are drained or land use results in the oxidation of soil. As the agriculture industry begins to take over, it is quintessential that there are laws modifying land use practices.
Restoring wetlands is imperative for both the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. At the UNFCCC, I would like to see an international law requiring the preservation of these wetlands.The ACES Bill which is being voted upon in the Senate at the start of the new year, allots subsidies to farmers who keep these prairie potholes on their lands inside of draining them. This way no one is losing out! If you try hard enough, agreeable solutions can be made.
Every year hundreds of hunters travel to the state for the wide scope of game that can be found in North Dakota. Annually, $5,040,845 is allocated to the state of North Dakota by sportsmen. These contributions (in the form of taxes paid on firearms, ammunition and state licenses) support the conservation of wildlife populations. Hunters are valued members of the conservation community and should be advocates for strong climate legislation within their home states.
Because the agricultural industry is the largest source of income for the state, many farmers are draining these potholes to create more farm land, leading to the destruction of waterfowl habitat. This is a scary thought considering wetlands are essential to the general wellbeing of citizens as they control flooding, expand biodiversity, mitigate climate change, as well as provide food and water.
Prairie potholes play a role in carbon sequestration serving as natural carbon reservoirs. The magnitude of storage depends upon wetland type and size, vegetation, the depth of wetland soils, ground water levels, nutrient levels, and pH levels. These carbon reservoirs can emit large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere if they are drained or land use results in the oxidation of soil. As the agriculture industry begins to take over, it is quintessential that there are laws modifying land use practices.
Restoring wetlands is imperative for both the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. At the UNFCCC, I would like to see an international law requiring the preservation of these wetlands.The ACES Bill which is being voted upon in the Senate at the start of the new year, allots subsidies to farmers who keep these prairie potholes on their lands inside of draining them. This way no one is losing out! If you try hard enough, agreeable solutions can be made.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Ocean Acidification
Today was the first day of the COP 15 conference and I am rather impressed with how smoothly things are running. Took less than 10 minutes today to go through security to gain entrance to the conference, yesterday it took a hour to get through. We were not able to go to the opening plenary session because we didn't have the right badges but our Minnesota delegate Aurora was able to infiltrate the meeting. The rest of us who couldn't get in watched on large flat screen TVs or in special projector screens in private rooms.
Since I wasn't able to attend the meeting, I instead ventured out into the building to some of the meetings going on in the U.S. Delegation offices. One of particular interest, something I knew very little about, was Ocean Acidification and the impacts of carbon dioxide on Marine ecosystems. This event was sponsored by Oceana, a marine conservation and advocacy group. Ocean acidification is a topic that was really not addressed in the Kyoto protocol but should have been.
Up until 2006, nothing was really published about the effects of the damaging process. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, humans have been emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at alarming levels. Today it is fact that mankind's footprint on the ocean is clearly detectable. It is warmer, more acidic, and less diverse. When we emit Co2 into our atmosphere some of that carbon is captured by plants and trees, but in marine ecosystems, this carbon is directly absorbed into the ocean. This absorption of Co2 in the oceans has a corrosive effect, raising the pH level and increasing the calcification rate. This is harmful to organisms such as phytoplankton because they undergo a process known as dissolution where their bodies are broken down to pieces while they are still alive. The dissolution of these organisms means less food for marine ecosystems, also an increase in the nitrogen-fixating bacteria. The dissolution of phytoplankton and other organisms leads to reduced growth, production and life span of adult fish, juveniles and larvae.
So how does this effect you? Well, let's think about it. A reduction in fish population is going to have harsh consequences for the seafood industry, small fisheries, and hatcheries. Inflow of corrosive waters across shelf and ecosystems is a terrible threat for small island nations and pacific countries as their coral reefs disappear. To these people, ocean acidification is a matter of life and death. The delegates here representing those countries are pushing for mandates on Co2 reductions because there are NO other options for them. A reduction in emissions is the only way to stop this process.
The last ingredient in a climate change remedy is political will. Without legislation, change is not going to happen. This is why a treaty in Copenhagen is of the utmost importance.
Since I wasn't able to attend the meeting, I instead ventured out into the building to some of the meetings going on in the U.S. Delegation offices. One of particular interest, something I knew very little about, was Ocean Acidification and the impacts of carbon dioxide on Marine ecosystems. This event was sponsored by Oceana, a marine conservation and advocacy group. Ocean acidification is a topic that was really not addressed in the Kyoto protocol but should have been.
Up until 2006, nothing was really published about the effects of the damaging process. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, humans have been emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at alarming levels. Today it is fact that mankind's footprint on the ocean is clearly detectable. It is warmer, more acidic, and less diverse. When we emit Co2 into our atmosphere some of that carbon is captured by plants and trees, but in marine ecosystems, this carbon is directly absorbed into the ocean. This absorption of Co2 in the oceans has a corrosive effect, raising the pH level and increasing the calcification rate. This is harmful to organisms such as phytoplankton because they undergo a process known as dissolution where their bodies are broken down to pieces while they are still alive. The dissolution of these organisms means less food for marine ecosystems, also an increase in the nitrogen-fixating bacteria. The dissolution of phytoplankton and other organisms leads to reduced growth, production and life span of adult fish, juveniles and larvae.
So how does this effect you? Well, let's think about it. A reduction in fish population is going to have harsh consequences for the seafood industry, small fisheries, and hatcheries. Inflow of corrosive waters across shelf and ecosystems is a terrible threat for small island nations and pacific countries as their coral reefs disappear. To these people, ocean acidification is a matter of life and death. The delegates here representing those countries are pushing for mandates on Co2 reductions because there are NO other options for them. A reduction in emissions is the only way to stop this process.
The last ingredient in a climate change remedy is political will. Without legislation, change is not going to happen. This is why a treaty in Copenhagen is of the utmost importance.
Planes, Trains, and....Polar Bear Ice Sculptures?
Where is all the climate action happening? In Copenhagen, Denmark! After an eight-hour flight, a ten-hour layover in Amsterdam, and another hour flight I have finally arrived in Copenhagen for the negotiations. The city is beautiful and alive with the energy of COP 15, posters and displays are on nearly every street corner advertising this Olympic-sized conference. One interesting display in particular was a Polar Ice Bear sculpture located in Nytrov square. This 11 ton block of ice was carefully crafted by world renowned sculptured Mark Coreth and encased by a bronze skeleton at the center.
The Polar Bear is a symbol of the rapidly warming climate and the animals who are effected by this. The ice represents the Arctic habitat of the polar bears, when the ice is all melted, the polar bears will drown--lost in a sea of climate change. It is a great wake-up call for citizens who don't see these animals in their natural home, who aren't there to witness these changes.
Other interesting displays include such things as a 55-foot Christmas tree colorfully illuminated with thousands of lights solely pedal-powered by bike! Citizens can hop on a bike and pedal for a few minutes to generate electricity for the lighting. Another cool display I wandered upon on my way to meetings, was a giant C02 balloon. This huge balloon was erected to create a visual display how big one metric ton of carbon dioxide is.
Photo by Jamie Horter
It feels like the whole city has turned out for the displays and the Hopehagen live concerts.
I immediately was put to work attending the Conference of Youth (COY) with about 500 youth from every country in the world. It was a humbling experience to meet my global peers and discuss strageies towards climate solutions. The rest of the day was spent obtaining my UNFCCC badge for entrance to the conference. In order to attend the conference, you must be associated with an accredited organization (Will Steger Foundation) to get your badge. I stood in line for 3 and half hours waiting to get my badge, part of this outside in the cold. There are about 15,000+ people registered for the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I can't wait for the negotiations start on the 7th!
The Polar Bear is a symbol of the rapidly warming climate and the animals who are effected by this. The ice represents the Arctic habitat of the polar bears, when the ice is all melted, the polar bears will drown--lost in a sea of climate change. It is a great wake-up call for citizens who don't see these animals in their natural home, who aren't there to witness these changes.
Other interesting displays include such things as a 55-foot Christmas tree colorfully illuminated with thousands of lights solely pedal-powered by bike! Citizens can hop on a bike and pedal for a few minutes to generate electricity for the lighting. Another cool display I wandered upon on my way to meetings, was a giant C02 balloon. This huge balloon was erected to create a visual display how big one metric ton of carbon dioxide is.
Photo by Jamie HorterIt feels like the whole city has turned out for the displays and the Hopehagen live concerts.
I immediately was put to work attending the Conference of Youth (COY) with about 500 youth from every country in the world. It was a humbling experience to meet my global peers and discuss strageies towards climate solutions. The rest of the day was spent obtaining my UNFCCC badge for entrance to the conference. In order to attend the conference, you must be associated with an accredited organization (Will Steger Foundation) to get your badge. I stood in line for 3 and half hours waiting to get my badge, part of this outside in the cold. There are about 15,000+ people registered for the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I can't wait for the negotiations start on the 7th!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
350 Day of Action
So what does it take to get Senators to listen up? Youth of course!
On Saturday October 24th, students from all around the Midwest traveled to Fargo, North Dakota for the Northern Plains Powershift youth summit. Speakers such as Dennis Walker, the Fargo Mayor, Arjun Makhijani, Dr. George Seielstad, and Patrick Spears came to speak to an array of youth and concerned community members. The event opened up with four panelist speakers, held breakout sessions to educate youth on specific climate issues, and taught the community how to participate in a non-violent direct action.
Around noon on Saturday, students the summit participated in an epic march the streets of historic downtown Fargo. The march ended with a rally in hopes that Fargo will wake up to these current climate issues. This action was one of thousands cropping up across the world on a day known as the 350 Day of Action. Now does 350 exactly mean?
Well 350 is a number. A number that scientists deem to be the safe level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Our current society has pushed this number to 390 which is contributing to the rising temperatures, more frequent environmental disasters, and a recent outbreak of health issues.
To tackle climate change we need to move quickly, and we need to act in unison—and 2009 will be an absolutely crucial year. This December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to craft a new global treaty on cutting emissions. The problem is, the treaty currently on the table doesn't meet the severity of the climate crisis—it doesn't pass the 350 test.
So on October 24th, ND citizens met to rally our senators for change. My hope is that this movement will continue to spread.
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