Earlier this week, researchers gave Minnesota legislators the start of a dissertation on the climate change problems facing their state.

The hearing was designed to provide lawmakers with the big perspective "at a graduate level" on the connections between climate change and the way Minnesotans use their natural resources through agriculture, water demand and forestry, said Rep. Jean Wagenius, chairwoman of the House Environment Committee.

The point, according to Wagenius and Rep. Alice Hausman, is for the House, controlled by the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party, to base new laws and policy decisions on research rather than ideology.

It was the first of five scheduled committee meetings on looming environmental issues.

That same day, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced 2012 was the warmest year on record in the contiguous United States and third-warmest for Minnesota.

Some still questioned the premise, but these challenges must be faced, according to Rep. Kim Norton.

"Can we handle the whole of climate change? No," she said. "But we can take factual research and move on that. We'd be irresponsible if we didn't" (Marcotty/McAuliffe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jan. 16). -- IP