We already feel the impacts of global warming. Droughts, floods, excessive heat, and intense hurricanes are likely to become more severe if global warming continues unchecked.

Policy solutions can spur the economy—generating investment in clean energy industries and galvanizing job creation—at the same time they protect human health and our beloved wilderness areas.

Those solutions? Tough laws and regulations that require firm deadlines for global warming pollution reductions.

What you can do

Take action as the Clean Air Act faces attack

When the U.S. Senate reconvenes on January 20, it's likely that Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will offer an amendment that would weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate global warming emissions.

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has had the authority since 1970 to set limits on air pollutants that threaten the health and welfare of the American people—like particle pollution, carbon monoxide and lead. Late in December 2009—after a thorough examination of the scientific evidence—the EPA determined that global warming pollution fits into this category.

The Clean Air Act has a proven record of progress over the last 40 years. While the United States' population and gross domestic product have both grown dramatically since 1980, concentrations and emissions of regulated air pollutants have dropped. The Clean Air Act is also cost-effective: the health benefits of the Act exceed its costs by as much as a 40-to-1. And don't think it's a partisan issue. In fact, the Act was revised with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President Bush in 1990.

According to the EPA, while pollutants under federal regulation have decreased, global warming emissions have increased 32 percent since 1980—and that number just keeps growing. The EPA must retain its authority to regulate global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act. As Senator Murkowski and others seek to weaken the EPA's air pollution controls, it is imperative that Americans take action. Please contact both Senator Amy Klobuchar (202-224-3244) and Senator Al Franken (202-224-5641) and ask them to vote against any amendment that weakens the Clean Air Act.

Make your voice heard - Make your voice heard by writing a letter to the editor of your local paper; elected officials need to know that people in their communities care about global warming. The best letters are short (150 words or less) and personal in nature: simply talk about why protecting Minnesota's natural resources is important to you! To find contact information for your local paper, check out the Minnesota Newspapers Directory.

Get Involved - Tell your elected officials that global warming solutions are important to you.

• Federal: Contact your federal elected officials and urge them to support comprehensive climate and energy policy to get America running on clean energy and limit and lower global warming pollution.
• State: Contact your state legislators and urge them to support global warming solutions at the state and regional level. Minnesota's leaders need to hear from you that we can't wait to take action to reduce global warming pollution.

Spread the Word - Help share the news about global warming solutions. Contact Fresh Energy at 651-225-0878 or info@fresh-energy.org to schedule a speaker at your business, congregation, civic organization, or workplace.

Lower Your Personal Impact - Each one of us needs to act to slow global warming. Use a carbon pollution calculator like the one provided by the U.S. EPA to determine the effect you're having on the Earth's climate. Set a "carbon budget" and adjust your behavior to lower your contribution.