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Report from the Cancun Conference on Climate Change

On Monday, January 10 at 7 pm at Southdale Library, local residents who were delegates to the recent Cancun international conference on climate change will report on their experience, "Climate Solutions – from Minnesota to Cancun and Back Again". 

Speakers will include Edina residents Paul Thompson and Valida Prentice, as well Reed Aronow and Alec Neal.  Prentice, Thompson and Aronow were all delegates to both the 2009 Copenhagen conference and the 2010 conference in Cancun.  Alec Neal biked across the country  from July to October on his way to Cancun, filming a documentary about solutions to the climate crisis along the way.  

Some progress was made at the Cancun conference, particularly in regard to preserving jungles and forests.  Deforestation is the source of about 15 to 20% of the CO2 that is being put into the atmosphere.  CO2 in the atmosphere creates a greenhouse effect that is changing climate conditions all across the globe.  "Positive steps taken at Cancun are stepping stones toward action that's  needed at the 2011 international conference in South Africa;  and each of us must also take steps to reduce the carbon footprint of our daily lives" says Edina Environment and Energy Commission member Paul Thompson.  Besides reviewing the Cancun conference, the forum on January 10 will also provide information about  a wide array of things local residents can do to help control climate change. 

This session is co-sponsored by 1Sky.org-Minnesota, CoolPlanet and the Citizens Climate Lobby. It's free and the public is invited to attend.  For more information, contact Chuck Prentice at 612-965-8284.

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