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Sen. Klobuchar Holds Climate Change Forum at Gustavus Adolphus College

Event Focuses on Positive Action to Address Global Climate Change

February 19, 2008

St. Peter, Minnesota -- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar conducted a climate change forum today with Gustavus Adolphus College students, faculty members and community leaders to review action in Washington and on the nation’s college campuses and to discuss future steps to address the challenge.

“We can confront the challenges of climate change, and we can do it in a way that will make our country stronger,’’ Klobuchar said. “We can do it in a way that will advance our technology and research, create jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.’’

Klobuchar described federal legislation and highlighted the opportunities for positive action to address the challenge of global climate change, both in Washington and through grassroots action on college campuses across the country.

Klobuchar is a sponsor of the bipartisan America’s Climate Security Act, which would introduce a “cap-and-trade” system with market-based incentives to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 70 percent by 2050.  The legislation represents historic action on climate change – the bill has passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and soon will be considered by the full Senate.

At the forum, Klobuchar also heard from several panelists who described what Gustavus and the surrounding community are doing on climate change. Speakers included:

- Jim Dontje, Director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation
- Lou Giesking, Director of Public Works for St. Peter
- J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director with Fresh Energy
- Amanda Varley, college student and intern with the Will Steger Foundation

After one year in the Senate, Klobuchar is already a national leader on climate change.  She serves on three Senate committees directly involved with the issue:  Environment, Agriculture and Commerce.  Last year she visited Greenland to observe firsthand the dramatic early impact of climate change evident there.
During the month of February, Gustavus Adolphus College is participating in the National Campus Energy Challenge, a nationwide contest to see which college can save the most energy.