Minn. environmental leaders, activists prep for Paris summit

Minnesota environmental leaders and activists are preparing for a summit on global climate change in Paris late in November.

Participants, including St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, met Wednesday morning at the Science Museum of Minnesota to brainstorm ahead of the summit. They paused for a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the Paris attacks.

"The time is now to deal with the issue of climate change," said Coleman.

More than 70 participants from Minnesota are expected to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP21.

World leaders and environmental activists are expected to come up with a plan on how to contain global warming during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which comes on the heels of last week's terrorist attacks.

Will Steger, a Minnesota explorer who has been a prominent voice on climate change for more than a decade, argued Minnesota is already seeing the impact of climate change in warmer temperatures.

"We don't have to really look too far to see the changes," said Steger. "This wonderful weather that we've had this fall was the product of global warming."

Steger said Minnesota is moving away from using coal, which is linked to climate change through the emissions of carbon dioxide.

"We all know that the Paris talks are the last and best opportunity here to limit the effects of climate change," he said.

Will Seuffert, director of the Environmental Quality Board, said his group is concerned about the impact of climate change on public health.

"Cardiovascular disease and asthma are related to emissions from coal plants," he said.

Over the last decade, the state has been trying to reduce carbon emissions and while also growing its economy, Seuffert said. Minnesota is making progress toward meeting the goals of Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, he added.

"You're the state's ambassadors," he told the group. "You've got to bring the Minnesota story to Paris to share with your peers across the globe and we ask you to return with ideas, ideas for Minnesota to consider to further combat climate change."

Earlier this month, Minnesota joined a coalition of 17 other states to defend the Clean Power Plan, which sets limits on carbon emissions.