The Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) recently hosted an interesting “Show and Tell” series to look at ways Northlanders are working to find solutions to concerns about climate change. One session included a presentation by Morgan Weyrens-Welch (left) on her trip to the Paris Climate Talks in December 2015. Elementary student Olya Wright attended the session and created a garden themed box to collect messages to Minnesota legislators about climate change.
While most people don’t consider climate change to be a cheerful topic, those who attended The Cook County Local Energy Project’s “Bringing Climate Change Home: A Community Show and Tell” were offered an uplifting look at what some in our community are doing to find solutions, big and small, to the problem of climate change.
Grand Marais engineer Jonathan Hedstrom took the audience on a virtual road trip, powered by re-cycled oil from area restaurants. Jonathan admitted that the most frequent question he is asked is, “Does it smell like french fries?” He has also used his mechanical skills to re-tool the engine of his Subaru to run on electric power, a change that has led to a significant increase in mileage and a substantial decrease in energy consumption.
Cook County High School Senior Morgan Weyrens-Welch reported on her trip to the COP21 Paris Climate Talks in December 2015. She was there with the Organic Consumers Association in support of Regenerative Organic Agriculture – a global initiative that results in drastic reductions (80-90 percent) of fossil fuel emissions. Morgan also added a pair of her shoes to the “empty shoe march” along with 10,000 others including Pope Francis and UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon.
Katya Gordon, leader of the Two Harbors chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, gave an educational presentation on the Carbon Fee and Dividend Solution to climate change. Carbon Fee & Dividend is a market-based, non-partisan approach to reducing carbon emissions and a way to create incentives for renewable energy use and production. Gordon shared details about the proposal and gave a legislative update, where there is now increased support for the idea.
Finally, a garden themed box created by elementary student Olya Wright was “planted” with postcards and messages to Minnesota legislators and sent along with Gordon, in the hope of growing an increased awareness about climate change.
Leave a Reply