May 2025 Climate Update

Climate in the News 

1. Farmer's crops are being devastated by hotter, drier weather.  Food shortages may come sooner than thought.
2. How the biggest oil companies misled the public for decades, to the detriment of everyone, everywhere.  They should be held responsible.
3. Chart of how Republican cuts to the IRA bill will hurt red states the most.  Republican reps are not representing their voters. 
4. Trump not only does not believe climate change is a problem, he is actively undermining basic science and weather services, to American detriment.
5. NOAA, with budget cuts by Trump, will stop many of its important functions including tracking billion $ weather disasters.  Who does that help?

Climate Education

Good Climate news: 

1. Farmers adding solar fields to their land make more reliable income
2. In Maine, heat pump initiatives are spreading the use of heat pumps and lowering everyone's heating bills.  Why not here in Minnesota?
3. New solar, wind and batteries lead new energy plant production going into 2025.

How we can all help preserve a livable world for our kids and future generations: 

1. Begin now vetting candidates of any party for the 2026 elections.  They need to be outspoken defenders of environmental and climate legislation.  Once you have a candidate you can trust, donate to, campaign for and vote for them!
2. It is critical that our Representatives hear from us on climate issues, like protecting NOAA and the IRA bill.  Reps of both parties tell CCL they hear from VERY FEW constituents, so the ones they DO hear from, carry weight.  Call your US House rep weekly with a simple "I want you to take action to protect climate legislation".  It does not need to be any more complicated than that.  Will you call?  Please pick a date in your smartphone, enter "Call my rep on climate", and hit Repeat weekly.  Your ph. will remind you to call :-)
3. Since current tax credits for cars and heat pumps may be discontinued in 2026, NOW is the time to get yours.