歪歪漫画

I became interested in 鈥渟aving the world鈥� by saving the environment in the early 80s. We were those people who installed $70 compact fluorescent lights in every fixture when they were new to the market. We composted and recycled at our restaurant, back when we had to haul and manage it ourselves.

We put in low-flow everything to save water and increase the lifetime of our septic systems. More recently, we installed a geothermal system to reduce our reliance on propane, save money on heating and cooling, and, of course, have installed LED lights throughout our home.

We invest because we LOVE to be outside, all the time, everywhere.

We do what we can to help the environment by reducing our climate footprint while saving money to be outside even more. We want to enjoy our retirement when we get there and are afraid of the weather disruptions due to global climate change.

We want our son to still get to ski when he is 60. We want birch trees to be still native to the Bemidji area and sunfish to still make fishing a delight to children on every dock.

Did you know Minnesota is getting warmer, especially winter nights in the northern parts of the state? Daily average minimum temperatures during winter (December through February) have increased by 7.3 degrees from 1895-2021 in northern Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Winter has gotten easier in some ways, but it is more unpredictable. We all see it in the winter activities we do. Some years, lots of snow; others, not so much. Some years, lots of lake ice; others, not so much.

If you live in Bemidji, I hope you like winter and the four seasons. I love them! Each season leaves me wishing for the next to come and the different outdoor activities that go with it. I live in Minnesota; I don鈥檛 want it to feel like Kansas.

It is 40 years after our original compact fluorescent investment. All our personal changes haven鈥檛 been enough. So far, 2023 looks to be the hottest year on Earth, with the 10 warmest years since 2010, according to climate.gov.

While all those things we do as citizens make a difference, we need our government to insist on significant changes. The Inflation Reduction Act was a milestone for the U.S., making us a world leader in climate investments. Thank you to all the elected leaders who voted for this bill. As citizens, let's work to keep those advancements and not let them be whittled down.

A group of friends will be writing a monthly article to help the community learn more about what is happening regarding climate. We hope each month is educational and action-oriented.

Today, I ask you to go outside, look down, look up, and all around. What do you see that you love? Is it worth saving, worth doing something about, worth advocating for? My friends and I will bring you various ideas to rekindle your passion to 鈥渟ave the world鈥� together because this will take everyone!

See you on the trail!

Polly Merhar of Bemidji is a member of the Citizens' Climate Lobby organization. For more information, visit