Madison - It's Christmas and Lake Mendota is once again iceless and we have had 280 days above freezing, tying the old record.  Ice cover has decreased by one-fifth since the mid-1800's according to a world map showing local consequences of global warming released today by the Sierra Club, ministers, local business people, anglers, and other environmental organizations.  The map (link will open in a new window) features the impacts of global warming at 89 sites across the globe, and offers powerful evidence that global warming has already begun.

"This map shows that global warming appears to be happening around the world and we need to take action to protect the people and God's creation," said Reverend Richard Blomker from Lake Edge Lutheran Church, member of the Wisconsin Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign.  "As we look to the new millennium, we need to each do what we can to reduce greenhouse air pollution and protect our families from global warming."

The map includes Lake Mendota and the Midwest heatwave.  Research shows that events like this will become more common and more severe as global warming increases.  Lake Mendota lack of ice is part of a global pattern including the July 1999 heat wave that tore across the Eastern U.S., claiming more than 250 lives.  The 1995 Midwest heat wave killed nearly 800 in Wisconsin, Illinois, and other states.  Additionally, the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1983.

"Global warming is not just a threat to the future, it's already a threat now.  And its effects are felt much closer to home than many realize," said Al Matano, Conservation Chair of the Four Lakes Groups of the Sierra Club.  "That is why it is important that we take steps now to curb global warming and protect our children's inheritance -- a healthy planet."

"The biggest single step we can take to curb global warming is to make cars and light trucks go further on a gallon of gasoline." - Daniel Becker

"Oceans are rising, diseases are spreading, weather is becoming more severe.  These warning signs tell us the time has come to slash auto and power plant pollution to curb global warming," said Daniel Becker, Director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program.  "The biggest single step we can take to curb global warming is to make cars and light trucks go further on a gallon of gasoline."

This map is part of the Sierra Club's ongoing campaign to inform citizens about the dire consequences of global warming.  It builds on Sierra Club's 1998 extreme weather map of the United States, "Storm Warning."

"The fact that our state made this map documenting evidence of global warming should be a wake up call to all Wisconsin residents," said John Hutchinson, owner of the Fontana Sports.  "We have been having trouble with our business lately due to the warm weather and lack of snow.  Global warming kills winter businesses and steps that clean up air pollution will help protect jobs."

Sierra Club worked with six other environmental groups to produce this map:

Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, World Resources Institute and World Wildlife Fund.

"Vehicle emissions are the second largest contributor of green house gasses yet WisDOT failed to include control strategies in their $20 billion state highway plan," said Andrea Broaddus of the New Transportation Alliance.  "Rather than a choice of whether to drive, with global warming WI will soon have a new choice
of what to drive - a convertible all year-round."

According to Kerry Schumann, WISPIRG Director, "Global warming is coming at a rising cost to all of us.  In 1998, the hottest year on record, Wisconsin suffered $279 million in economic loss from extreme weather.  If we want to enjoy future white Christmases in Madison, we need to clean up polluting power plants and increase fuel economy standards for SUVs and other light trucks."

"Last year, many Wisconsin companies rejected implementing zero-cost actions to reduce their global warming pollution," said Rich Bogovich, climate change policy specialist for Wisconsin's Environmental Decade.  "At a bare minimum; all utilities, paper companies, auto manufacturers, road builders, and oil companies should implement these actions immediately."

The eagerly anticipated map was previewed in the December 13 issue of Time magazine.  For more information on the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program visit their website.  The Sierra Club encourages citizens to become involved in curbing global warming by contacting state, local, and federal officials and urging them to take action to support and advocate pollution reductions from vehicles, power plants, and appliances.