The Central Minnesota Chapter of The Climate Reality Project
A diverse group of passionate individuals who’ve come together to solve the greatest challenge of our time - Climate Change.
We are Minnesota activists, cultural leaders, organizers, scientists and storytellers committed to building a sustainable future together.
Featured
Chapter Events
Thu Feb 10
Chapter Zoom Meeting
Topic: Hiding in Plain Sight: Solutionary Rail
Speaker: Bill Moyer
Wed Mar 2
Leadership Zoom Meeting
Strategic Plan
Committee Breakouts
Wed Mar 10
Chapter Zoom Meeting
Topic: TBA
Speaker TBA
2022 Chapter Year End Summary
Thursday Nov 10th 6:30-7:30pm - Zoom Meeting
Featured Speaker: Lee E. Frelich
Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology
Forests store large amounts of carbon, and optimal management of forests and expansion of forest cover could help mitigate future climate change by sequestering carbon. We examined the forest management and tree planting practices that have the potential to draw down atmospheric CO2, as well as their limitations. GreenAgain Madagascar, a tropical rainforest restoration project associated with the University of Minnesota, will be highlighted as an example of expanding forest cover in a deforested area.
Recent Events
Community Solar
Jan 13 2022
Distributed power using nuclear microreactors - emphasizing the scalability and flexibility of nuclear power, particularly with renewable energy sources, and the geographic and economic motivations surrounding future energy demands, Emma Redfoot explains why nuclear power must be a part of our energy future.
Achieving Drawdown
Nov 8 2021
After a summer marked by wildfires, air quality alerts, droughts and heatwaves, we all could use a little hope when it comes to climate change. In a talk by Dr. Jonathan Foley, the executive director of Project Drawdown, we take a look at some reasons for optimism when dealing with climate change.
Microreactors
Oct 13 2021
Distributed power using nuclear microreactors - emphasizing the scalability and flexibility of nuclear power, particularly with renewable energy sources, and the geographic and economic motivations surrounding future energy demands, Emma Redfoot explains why nuclear power must be a part of our energy future.
The Fragility of the Grid
Sept 8 2021
Meredith Angwin discusses how our current electric grid is controlled by a system of insider-dominated closed meetings, constant auctions and near-miss electrical shortfalls that generate profits but do little to establish a reliable system that can withstand current and future power demands.
Climate News
Jan 27 2022
Quotes
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep balance, you have to keep moving"
Albert Einstein
"Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas"
Madame Curie
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future"
Niels Bohr
"Our world faces a true planetary emergency"
Al Gore
Science
Planetary Dashboard
Global Temps
This number is the increase over 1900-2000 average surface temperatures.
As more of the infrared radiation (heat) is trapped by the atmosphere, surface temperatures have also increased.
+.98° C
Arctic Sea Ice
This value represents the total ice coverage minimum during the summer in the arctic. As the atmosphere warms, ice melts faster in the summer. Additionally, less ice coverage increases the dark areas of the arctic, which further increased the absorption of sunlight and leads to further warming of the arctic waters.
4.72 million sq km
2021 summer minimum sea ice levels
Mountain Glaciers
This graph charts the decline of mountain glacier mass over the past 30 years. Melting glaciers are the primary driver of sea rise, along with the expansion of warming ocean water.
Ocean Heat
Warming waters cause sea level rise, glacial melt and coral bleaching. Much of the heat trapped since the beginning of the industrial revolution has gone into the ocean.
Sea Level
This chart shows the steady increase of sea level since the 1800's. Driven by melting glaciers and the expansion of warmer water, this rise leads to coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion, which damages homes and crops, and threatens hundreds of millions around the world who live in these threatened coastal areas.
CO2
418 PPM
This is the current concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A principal cause of global warming since the beginning of the industrial revolution, this reduces the ability of the Earth to radiate generated heat into space, trapping more of the heat and leading to increased surface and ocean temperatures.
Chapter Information
We Need You!
We need your help to provide content and fight climate change! Submit your ideas for presentations, news, information or other relevant topics to info@climaterealitymsp.org
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© 2022 Central Minnesota Chapter of The Climate Reality Project.