Heating and cooling our homes and buildings in Minnesota contribute about 40 percent of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions. What opportunity exists to reduce our carbon footprint by updating our building codes?MPR News correspondent Dan Kraker wrote about that recently and shared his key takeaways.
A scientist at the University of Minnesota may have found a better way to track the effects of climate change on Arctic and boreal regions like northern Minnesota where temperatures are rising at some of the fastest rates in the world. Rui Cheng, a professor in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota, is behind the research on using leaf glow to monitor vegetation dynamics. While not visible under natural light, leaf glow can be detected using remote sensing and can provide important information about the health of Arctic-boreal ecosystems.Cheng shared more about the research on this week’s Climate Cast.
Renewable energy sources provided 33 percent of Minnesota’s electricity last year, which is 10 percent higher than the national average according to a new report. So, what’s next for Minnesota’s clean energy transition?Amelia Cerling Hennes, managing director of public affairs for Clean Energy Economy MN, shared more about the state’s clean energy progress.
“I’m sorry we broke the sea and sky and shortened the wings of the nightingale. I’m sorry that the Great Barrier Reef is no longer great, that we value Amazon much more than the Amazon.”Those are the words of CNN’s chief climate correspondent Bill Weir from his new book called “Life as We Know It (Can Be).” He wrote it as a letter to his 4-year-old son River to read in the future.It’s a future where he hopes we’ve fixed our broken climate. Bill Weir, who began his career in Austin, shared more about the book on this week’s Climate Cast.
Hurricanes are getting so strong that some scientists say we should add a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.That’s out of a recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences looking at the link between stronger hurricanes and climate change.Senior Climate Reporter Andrew Freedman wrote about it for Axios.
A recent study shows nearly 15 percent of Americans “do not believe in climate change.”So, what drives climate denialism in the U.S.?Joshua Newell is a professor and co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems. He was one of the authors of this research and broke down his findings.
Electric vehicle dealers right here in Minnesota are using different strategies to convince prospective buyers from different political affiliations.
A new paper shows increasing global average temperatures and more intense and frequent heat waves are already driving up the prices of food and other goods.To talk more about climate change and inflation is the lead author of that research, Maximilian Kotz with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.
Earth’s oceans have been reaching record-warm temperatures. Every day for the last 12 months.What is happening? How much is climate change driving the temperature spike? And how concerned are climate scientists?University of St. Thomas Professor John Abraham, one of the world’s leading ocean temperature researchers, talks about it.
More than 25 percent of Minnesota’s electricity now comes from renewable sources like wind and solar.Despite the progress and growth of green energy, there’s still a backlog of projects waiting approval is slowing the growth of clean energy in Minnesota. A new proposed bill being considered by the state would streamline the permitting process.Reporter Kristoffer Tigue wrote about this topic for Inside Climate News.To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
Minnesota’s warmest winter on record was literally off the charts in several metrics. Just how unique was this winter? And how is our shifting climate impacting our daily weather forecasts?Pete Boulay is with the Minnesota State Climatologist Office. He keeps track of weather and climate records around Minnesota.
The warmest winter on record has also brought some of the lowest snow cover on record to much of Minnesota.What does the lack of snow mean for Minnesota’s soils and farmers this year?Jeff Strock is a professor with the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center.
Well-known climate scientist Michael Mann recently won a million-dollar lawsuit against conservative bloggers.Mann alleged that he was defamed by the bloggers who said the climatologist “molested and tortured data.”So what precedent could this case set?Leigh Currie, the Director of Strategic Litigation with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, breaks down what his win could mean for climate science.
Locals in the Galapagos say climate change and the current Super El Niño could be affecting the marine life and climate there.The Galapagos Islands sit on the Equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean, just west of Ecuador at the confluence of three major ocean currents.MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard just returned from the islands on a trip where he got a first-hand look at what’s happening.
Minnesota’s first-ever “green bank” launches this year. The Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority will distribute funding for green energy and other climate-friendly projects. The first projects from the $45 million pool could be funded early this summer.For more on the green bank is Pete Klein, interim executive director for the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority.
A proposed carbon capture pipeline across the Midwest by Summit Carbon Solutions is awaiting approval from Iowa and other states. Minnesota approved the permit for it last year.The five-state, $5.5 billion pipeline system would capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and send it to North Dakota for underground storage.As more places, including ours, pursue carbon capture projects, what rules and monitoring mechanisms need to be in place to make sure things work as intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?Eric Schaeffer is Executive Director with the Environmental Integrity Project, which just released a report on the current federal rules for carbon capture projects — and what might be missing.
Last year was by far the warmest year on record globally. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and European datasets all confirm the numbers. That means the 10 warmest years on record globally are the past 10 years.How do climate scientists explain this unprecedented warming trend?Jared Rennie is a research scientist with NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information and he discussed what we should take away from the numbers.
Minnesota officials have set an ambitious goal for the state to be carbon-neutral by 2050.And our Getting to Green series has been digging deep into stories of the clean energy transition. What opportunities and obstacles lie on the path to reach a carbon neutral Minnesota milestone?MPR News correspondents Dan Kraker and Kirsti Marohn guest hosted a series of conversations to talk to experts and listeners about our state's energy future.As a part of that reporting, they toured the home of William and Kristin Mroz-Risse which is now fully electric and more energy efficient. Kristin works for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as the GreenStep Cities and tribal nations coordinator. William works in the renewable energy sector.
A housing project that tackles homelessness, poverty, and climate change all in one.That’s the goal of Hillcrest Village in Northfield, Minnesota. It’s an emergency shelter and supportive housing development – powered entirely by the sun.Scott Wopata is Executive Director at Community Action Center, which was behind the project.
Anyone getting gas and electricity service in Minneapolis will see an estimated one dollar increase in their bills come next year.The money from the slight hike is meant to go towards helping people weatherize their homes and programs to reduce carbon emissions.It’s a part of the city’s Climate Legacy Initiative and officials say it will raise an additional $10 million each year starting in 2024 for climate action.Dave Orrick wrote about the plan for the Star Tribune and broke it down on Climate Cast.