President Obama and the U.S. Senate have failed. They promised legislation to transform our energy system, create jobs and reduce pollution and today Senate Majority Leader Reid gave up.

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It’s hot outside my window in Saint Paul, Minnesota—that’s no surprise, as it’s the heart of summer and we expect hot weather here at 45 degrees north latitude. But what’s happening with the Earth’s climate? A new report from our National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides the pertinent data that help us understand the global climate and look beyond the weather outside our windows.

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A report recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration concludes that carbon emissions from fossil fuels in the United States are expected to increase, highlighting the urgency for passing federal comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation this year that will limit and lower carbon pollution and put America on a path toward a clean energy economy. An excerpt from the report:

"Estimated U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels, which declined by 7.0 percent in 2009, are expected to increase by 3.2 percent and 1.6 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as economic growth spurs higher energy consumption."

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Over 1,200 organizations have signed a letter to President Obama calling for his leadership to help pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year. Fresh Energy is proud to be among them.

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The National Research Council recently released three new reports that provide strong evidence for an immediate need for action to reduce emissions and begin adapting to impacts. The reports are part of a Congressionally-requested suite of five studies known as America's Climate Choices and are considered the organization's most comprehensive study of climate change to date. Two other reports will be released later this year.

"Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for - and in many cases is already affecting - a broad range of human and natural systems," says Advancing the Science of Climate Change, one of the new reports.

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 The American Power Act now under discussion in the U.S. Senate would establish--for the very first time--effective U.S. national limits on global warming pollution. While the reductions are not deep enough to protect our climate future, they would put our country on the right path to driving investments in clean energy jobs and ending our dependence on oil.

The emissions limits would start in 2013, with targets of 17 percent reductions below 2005 levels by 2020, and get tighter every year, reaching 83 percent reductions by 2050. Fresh Energy will be blogging regularly to comment on the provisions needed to ensure that we meet these limits.

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Wondering how decision makers are doing on creating rules for a low carbon economy? In 2007, the Minnesota legislature passed the Next Generation Energy Act, including setting science-based goals for global warming pollution reductions in Minnesota. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by at least 30 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050. The state's Climate Change Advisory Group recommended actions needed to meet those reduction targets; in November, citizens will elect a new legislature and governor that will be responsible for enacting - or not enacting - the policy actions needed to unleash Minnesota's clean energy jobs potential. At the federal level, in 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an economy-wide limit on carbon pollution. Now in spring 2010, the U.S. Senate may be ready to act on a comprehensive energy and climate bill to address this urgent economic and environmental issue.

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The Geological Society of America this week updated the organization's position statement on climate change. The GSA is a scientific society, founded in 1888 and with over 22,000 members. It was founded to promote the geosciences in the service of humankind.

From the April 2010 Geological Society of America climate change position statement:

"Recent scientific investigations have strengthened the case for policy action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to unavoidable climate change. To strengthen the consensus for action, this statement from the Geological Society of America is intended to inform policymakers about improved knowledge of Earth's climate system based on advanced in climate science..."

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While Earth Day falls on Thursday this year, a growing number of college kids around the country may be wishing April 22 fell on Sunday. Why? They see a direct correlation between caring for the environment and their faith in Christ.

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According to President Barack Obama, "The true story of the environmental movement is not about the laws that have been passed. It's about the citizens who have come together time and time again to demand cleaner air, healthier drinking water, and safer food. And who've demanded that their representatives in government hold polluters accountable."

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