The Step It Up Global Warming Education and Leadership forum was held in an unusual forum, an art gallery. We also heard the from local musician Carol Williams. For the first part of the forum we heard from three speakers with three different perspectives on global warming. Tim Montague of Climate Justice Chicago spoke passionately about the need to act quickly to address global warming before its too late and to address global warming justice. Anthony Star of the Center for Neighborhood Technology revealed the latest results of the studies of how global warming could impact Chicago and how the City could work toward greenhouse gas reduction targets. Jack Darin, Illinois Director of the Sierra Club talked how the Sierra Club has made global warming the main priority because it threatens the entire environment. Jack also spoke about the opportunity we have in Illinois to require the sale of clean cars here. This could require the auto industry to convert to clean car manufacturing.

For the second half we heard from Rep. Greg Harris, County Commissioner Mike Quigley and MWSRD Commissioner Deborah Shore. Commissioners Quigley and Shore spoke about the importance of local government and the need to get involved. Rep. Harris spoke about the need to build state wide support for environmental policies.

Panel discussion then local politicians speaking. Each answered several questions from the audience.

We had a packed room and some great speakers. They talked with us about what Chicago and Illinois are doing to combat global warming, along with what we need to do to have our voices heard by other politicians. We were also given some great water conservation tips, including collecting water in a 55-gallon mosquito-proof rain barrel for uses such as watering plants. Also it was mentioned to put a bucket in the shower while it is warming up to catch the water and later use for watering house plants or flushing the toilet.

As my first experience being part of the organization of an event, I was quite happy. I've learned some things, met new people and had a good time.

It was a great turnout too, maybe 170. We had some great speakers too. Jack Darin, of Sierra Club, made some great points about the opportunities we have in Illinois to affect national auto policy by adopting the California emissions standards. It's only part of the solution, but it's one piece that looks nearly within grasp. If we adopted those standards, which several other states have done as well, the size and central position of Illinois would make it less economic for manufacturers to produce both a clean and dirty version.

Overall the Sierra Club campaign sounds like a well thought out effort individuals can connect with. It's simple, yes, but efforts like that need to reach a great number of people, so that's good.

We also heard presentations from Tim Montague of Climate Justice Chicago and Anthony Star of the Center for Neighborhood Technology. Anthony had facts out the wazoo on Chicago's impact and the sources of the impact. Some were non-surprising but well-illustrated, such how drastic the difference in per-capita impact is between the urbs and the suburbs (cities win in case you were wondering).

The elected official turnout was light due to the recent crisis in Springfield. Still, we had three, State Representative Greg Harris, County Commissioner Mike Quigley and Debra Shore, Commissioner for the MWRD (Water Reclamation District).

Mike talked about all ways local governments can put their buying power to use, and what Cook County has done. It's important that people like Mike push those ground level efforts forward. Change takes time, and getting a head start is blazes a path for others as well as making an impact right now.

The one thing missing from the whole event was a consensus around carbon pricing/trading/capping. We heard a lot about Chicago and the great efforts going on here. We really need to have national or even global impacts too, though. The two efforts aren't exclusive in any fashion.

What is overlooked, I think, is the effects national wins have on local efforts. Local efforts always begin with the low hanging fruit. It's easy to do this locally, and smart, because you're working at such a low level that you can manage the details involved with things like distributing individual light bulbs, rain-water barrels or just putting more focus on locally grown foods.

But there is only so much low hanging fruit on a tree. National impacts don't generally have the same immediate feedback that local efforts do, but they are important because they put more fruit within reach. There's really only one way to win the war, and that is at the national level.

Do this well and all of the local efforts will feel much more rewarding. It should be obvious that if dirty is more expensive than clean, two things will happen. First more companies and people will do the math and figure they need to do clean things. Secondly, once they start doing that, they'll do more, and faster, because they can actually afford to.

In the longer term there's one more important element. Raising that bar insures that those who lead the way, will reap the benefits of their foresight. That's justice.

About 125-150 people were in attendance. We all sat and listened to various elected officials and members of environmental agencies talk about what we can do to meet the goal set for 2050.

I found the discussion with the elected officials particularly interesting. I didn't realize how powerful some of our local politicians can be in creating new ordinances and measures to harness global warming.

I was very glad that I attended. Hopefully next time there will be 500 people!

It was a great turnout and a beautiful setting! (the High Risk Gallery on Belmont) Once the event got started, the room was packed practically wall to wall!

The officials who were able to attend the forum gave some great first-hand perspectives on how local government can make a difference for global warming and how best to get legislators' attention on the issue.

Everyone present was also able to take immediate action - the audience signed cards from the Sierra Club as part of their "Clean Cars" campaign, petitioning state government to adopt California's stricter emission standards for vehicles. Volunteers also handed out over 100 free compact fluorscent lightbulbs.