Will Steger: Eyewitness to Global Warming

Steger began his presentation to a full house with a colorful retelling of his youthful adventures. This seemingly shy man has just a bit of the devil in his eye, which underscores how much he must have enjoyed the yarns of his boyhood mentor, Huck Finn. Steger unknowingly began his life work by buying his first boat at age 15. From there, he was kayaking, rafting, and eventually climbing the Peruvian Andes. His sense of adventure was not outshone by his love of learning, and he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of St. Thomas.

Steger understood that he could put the skills he honed in his adventures to work. He combined his love of teaching with his love of the natural world and eventually became an instructor for Outward Bound.

He consciously chose a simple yet full life in Ely, Minnesota, continuing to live in a cabin he built himself 36 years ago. His life is an example of what can be accomplished by staying true to one’s spirit.

As his life story unfolded, the more serious side of his adventures became apparent. It is not by chance that Steger accomplished his treks across Greenland, the North Pole, and Antarctica. As he detailed each journey, he was quick to point out that the success of each expedition was calculated on paper before he left. The business of exploration minimizes known risks and leaves as little as possible to chance, as the lives of the explorers and their dogs are at stake. Such journeys require physical stamina, heart, intensely detailed preparation, and a dash of good luck. Steger outlined how every detail was planned, including breeding special dogs that could not only withstand the cold, but that would have the strength, intelligence, and heart required for this arduous work. The crowd was somewhat shocked to learn that Will and his team of fellow scientists and explorers did not ride on the sleds, but rather ran or skied behind them. This fact puts a whole new spin on a 3,741-mile trek across Antarctica. This is clearly not work for the faint of heart.

Steger detailed his journeys with overview maps and exquisite photographs. This visual presentation allowed the audience to appreciate the depth of his accomplishment and his sense of urgency about the dangers facing the ecosystems he so dearly loves. Steger showed detailed photos of places he had traversed by dogsled as few as 15 years earlier that, when viewed from satellite photos today, are nothing but water.

Specifically, Steger detailed the vastness of the Larsen B ice shelf he traveled in Antarctica in 1989-90. This portion of his journey took his team 5 weeks to cross lengthwise. This portion of the ice shelf, which roughly equates to the size of Iowa, disintegrated several years ago over a course of only three weeks time. The satellite photos showing before and after pictures of this dramatic change stunned the audience.

Steger outlined changes that he noted in other places he has explored as well. Greenland seems to be the canary in the coal mine. Scientists are watching the glaciers of Greenland closely, because it is here that 12% of the earth’s fresh water is held in frozen form. This, unfortunately, is changing rapidly, and it is possible that the glaciers of Greenland are at risk.

Steger detailed the plight of the polar bears at the North Pole. They depend on traveling over the pack ice in the spring and summer to follow the seals, their main source of food. While seals are good swimmers, polar bears are not. As the pack ice thins and breaks up, the polar bears are forced to swim much farther than is physically possible for them in search of food. Sadly, the result is that polar bears are drowning in significant numbers. They may be the first casualty of global warming, warns Steger, but surely they will not be the last.

Will Steger, flanked by parishioners Clarence Chaplin and Mary Dymond of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Another issue that troubles Steger is the thawing of the permafrost. He explained that permafrost is mostly deep bog, which contains large amounts of methane. As the bog thaws, the methane will be released into the atmosphere. He further explained that methane is a more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide because its chemical structure allows it to hold more heat. This heat will eventually end up in the atmosphere.

While Steger is an eyewitness to this destruction, he knows that there are many people who are more directly affected. His next trek will be across Baffin Island, collecting information and documenting changes to the Inuit people. Steger is hoping to put a “cultural face” on global warming.

At this point in the program, Steger introduced J. Drake Hamilton, the Science Policy Director of Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ME3), a private nonprofit organization working to lead the transition to a clean, efficient, and fair energy system. Hamilton is an accomplished and confident young woman who holds degrees in geography and environmental studies from Dartmouth College and the University of Minnesota. She is the principal author of ME3’s report Playing with Fire: Climate Change in Minnesota. In addition to these accomplishments, Hamilton was accepted into the International Leader Program of the European Union; she spent September 2005 in Europe studying global warming policy solutions.

Hamilton spoke frankly and pragmatically about the situation as she sees it today. She explained that while some of these changes are natural, the rate of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere has increased exponentially because of human activity, particularly the choice to burn fossil fuels. She broke down the human impact scenario into three main actions. Roughly one-third of the carbon dioxide comes from transportation: cars, buses, trains, and airplanes. Another third come from the choices we make when designing buildings; lighting, heating/cooling, and ventilation all play a role. Finally, the remaining third comes from how we obtain our electricity. In Minnesota, 75% of our electricity comes from burning coal.

Lisa Herschberger from the MPCA spoke

Hamilton spoke passionately about what can be done to make measurable improvements in each of the three defined problem areas. She first offered the audience examples of personal action they can take and followed with policy action that is needed in each area.

With regard to the problem of transportation, Hamilton offered suggestions such as carpooling, biking, or using the most fuel-efficient car possible. She noted that one gallon of gas produces 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. In terms of policy actions that could ease this problem, Hamilton offered the idea of raising the fuel economy standard for all modes of transportation. She told the stunned audience that raising the fuel efficiency requirement for cars, trucks, and SUVs by just one MPG would equate to saving more oil than is currently available in ANWR. Two federal policies that Hamilton sees as crucial are the Climate Stewardship Act and state-based carbon dioxide reduction plans. In addition, state, regional, and national renewable electricity standards must be adopted. She directed the audience to her website (www.me3.org) to follow legislative action that is currently being considered.

Regarding the problem of building environmentally sound houses, Hamilton encouraged the audience to have an energy audit performed in their homes. The easiest and most effective way for consumers to conserve energy in this arena is to purchase energy-efficient or “energy star” appliances and compact fluorescent bulbs. She also encouraged the audience to look at energy-efficient windows, doors, and insulation. In terms of policy initiatives, Hamilton sees a change in the way states are constructing new buildings, ensuring that taxpayers’ money is being used to build “climate-neutral” buildings. A climate-neutral building is one that minimizes the environmental impact of building materials as well as heating and cooling choices. This is a trend that must be encouraged and adopted nationwide.

The area of sources of electric power drew the most discussion. Hamilton once again encouraged the audience to buy “energy star” appliances as the easiest method of conserving electricity. She stated that we need a renewable energy standard by 2020 that will ensure that 20% of our electricity comes from renewable sources. She encouraged the audience to contact their local legislators and ask them to support the energy renewable standard.

Hamilton also highlighted Xcel Energy’s Windsource program and reminded the audience that when we think of a market-based energy economy, we do not produce coal in Minnesota, but we are a source of wind power. Not only is using wind power good for the environment, but it is creating jobs in our backyard. Xcel Energy’s Windsource program is the largest customer-driven wind energy program in the country and is available to customers throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota. The wind is harnessed through wind turbines, all of which are located in rural Minnesota.

Hamilton focused on practical solutions to this very complicated problem. She offered a simple, yet elegant solution for a market-based economy. In a market economy, everything has a price. Why not build in a cost for industries that contribute to the greenhouse gas problem? In her estimation, we have only 15–20 years to slow the progress of global warming, so decisive, effective action is required now.

At this point, Hamilton opened up the presentation for questions. The question that sparked the most discussion was about nuclear power. Hamilton explained that although nuclear power accounts for 17% of the power generated in Minnesota and that it burns cleaner than coal, it is not totally carbon-free. In addition, nuclear waste must be dealt with. Hamilton acknowledged that nuclear energy is part of the solution; the bigger issue is to work to develop renewable sources of power for the future. She warned that every power company is poised to build more coal-burning plants as the demand for energy increases. That is why the development of renewable sources of energy is critical right now. She reminded the audience that the United States makes up only 5% of the world’s population yet produces 25% of greenhouse gas pollution.

At the close of the program, the audience was invited to stay for an information fair, which included representatives from Congregations Caring for Creation, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Home Energy Conservation, and Green Power. Will Steger also was available to sign his books and posters.

A special thank you must be given to Deb Harley for her beautiful gathering music to start off the afternoon. Deb reminded us all why we came together with her beautiful rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.”

Thank you also to Fr. Jim DeBruycker for his welcoming words and Lisa Herschberger for reminding us that caring for this world is what we are all called to do, whatever our religious beliefs.

St Joan of Arc has Clarence Chaplin and Mary Dymond to thank for bringing Will Steger and J. Drake Hamilton to our spiritual home. Their hard work was appreciated by all in attendance.

Mary Sue Hannan has been a parishoner for 6 years. She lives in South Minneapolis with a motley crew of critters. She is an avid Yankee fan who believes that the 2004 ALCS and World Series were merely a dream sequence in a bad "Fox Network Made For TV Movie." She is grateful to friends who indulge her in this belief.

Finally, a thank you must be given to Will Steger and J. Drake Hamilton, who gave all in attendance much to think about. A new sense of urgency and empowerment was created for all present.

Marlys Weber, a member of St. Joans for 37 years, has a passion for Justice and Peace actions. She is a member of WAMM and Veterans for Peace and has been arrested numerous times for non-violent civil disobedience. In 2003, she helped organize four anti-war buses from St. Joans to Washington DC. Marlys has been on delegations to El Salvador, Guatemala, South Africa and Haiti. She rides with Team Oz, is a dedicated member of the Justice Fund Committee, the Bible Study group and is Chair of the tenacious Memorial Garden Committee for creation remains.  Doing photo/journalism is her secret desire.