Concordia Students Support City of Moorhead Action on Environmental and Climate Issues

Students strongly encourage the city to make climate change a priority.

The City of Moorhead recently approved a climate resolution, and support for that decision came from Concordia students.

“A team of five students focused their PEAK project in my Environmental Politics and Policy course on the possible passage of a Climate Emergency Resolution in Moorhead,” said Dr. Kenneth Foster, chair/professor of political science. “They talked with several city council members and did research on what such a resolution or declaration is and how other cities have passed them.”

Anna Larson ’23, Lauren Taylor ’23, Joana Acosta-Palmeros ’23, Katelyn Lundeen ’21, and Mya Hassebrock ’23 conducted a survey of Concordia students on their attitudes toward local environmental and climate action in November 2021. The survey replicated one that was conducted in December 2020.

Foster said they then submitted their report to the mayor and city council members prior to the council meeting at which the Climate Emergency Resolution was to be considered.

Both surveys showed that most students (over 94%) strongly or somewhat agree that it is important that the community actively work to address environmental issues and to make progress in becoming an environmentally friendly city. More than 92% strongly or somewhat agree that government officials should prioritize environmental issues and demonstrate a commitment to environmental health.

When asked which areas of environmental work government officials should give priority attention to, students’ top choices were climate change by reducing carbon emissions, waste reduction and recycling, renewable energy, and the health of the Red River.

Half of survey respondents reported that they would be more likely to try to stay in Fargo or Moorhead after graduation if the city was prioritizing work to make Moorhead a more environmentally friendly city and a leader in responding to climate change.

The report encouraged the city as it makes decisions, to hear the voice of the student body since it makes up a significant percentage of the community. Students want to see their values reflected in the decision-making process and be more connected to the community. Increasing and maintaining this connection can lead to more students wanting to stay in the area after college and the report stated, “we strongly encourage the Moorhead City Council to pass a Climate Emergency Resolution and to create a public commission focused on climate change and environmental sustainability.”

Foster said the resolution passed through unanimous consent and also added that a team of students in one of Dr. Jennifer Sweatman's courses this semester is preparing to push for concrete action now that the resolution has passed.

“A climate emergency is an important initiative for Moorhead to take on because we are in a climate crisis,” Taylor said. “By passing the resolution, it means the city is committing to taking action that will lead to environmental conservation so that both current and future residents can have healthy living conditions as well as protected natural spaces that are so important for a community to have.”

Moorhead joins a number of cities throughout Minnesota, states, and countries, in passing such a resolution to address climate change. The city is now part of an emerging non-partisan group of Minnesota cities focused on the adverse impact climate change has on cities’ economic well-being and quality of life. The work is facilitated by Great Plains Institute with funding from the Energy Foundation and the McKnight Foundation. Notably, the five largest cities in the state are joining with smaller cities to draw attention to the damage caused by climate change and identify opportunities to begin to reverse it.

“I hope that this can be the first step toward real environmental action in Moorhead so that the community’s natural resources and beauty can be preserved for generations to come,” Taylor added.