Climate Cast (Minnesota Public Radio)

A “constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment”.

That’s why 16 young people between ages 5 and 22 are suing the state of Montana seeking a transition to a less carbon-intensive energy policy.

The trial has been called historic in Montana and could have implications nationwide on climate litigation.

Amanda Eggert has been following the case for the Montana Free Press and she shared her reporting with Climate Cast.

As climate science and impacts evolve, how much should students in Minnesota and across the U.S. learn about climate change causes and solutions?

Kristen Poppleton is the senior director of programs climate generation in the Twin Cities, an organization that works with educators and students on climate change education in schools.

How can your home be a weapon in the fight to reduce climate change?

One of the biggest opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is weatherizing and super insulating existing homes and buildings.

And lawmakers this year set aside a big chunk of money to help people do just that.

Tina Clarke has super insulated her own homes and helped others do the same. She shared her tips on how to get started.

Climate change is putting stress on the traditional spruce and pines in Minnesota’s northern forests — and there’s real concern about their future.

So, researchers are planting trees from the southern parts of our state in hopes of saving our northern forests.

It’s called assisted migration and University of Minnesota professor Julie Etterson is studying if it can be an effective strategy for reforesting and fighting climate change.

The heat is on for Minnesota this week and heat waves are making news across the world.

Hospitals in Phoenix are treating burn patients from sizzling pavement. Tourists in Greece are evacuating fire zones.

How can scientists gauge when heat events are normal and when they’re fueled by climate change?

Climate Central chief meteorologist Bernadette Woods Placky talks about a tool she uses called the Climate Shift Index.

Recreational marijuana is now officially legal in Minnesota but this may not be great news for the climate.

A 2021 study found that growing an ounce of marijuana indoors can result in greenhouse gas emissions equal to burning a tank of gas.

So as the cannabis industry continues to expand, how can it reduce its massive carbon footprint?

Ari Seaman is CEO and founder of OG AG TECH as well as COO of C4. He shared a new technology he’s developed to help farms become more sustainable.

A rulemaking process is underway by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for a law passed this year aimed at addressing health inequities in disenfranchised communities.

The legislation carves out specific environmental justice areas and it could mean more Minnesota businesses will have to undergo a pollution analysis before getting permits within these regions. Maps sketching out these newly designated areas were released last month. The regions cover all of the Twin Cities as well as large swaths of Rochester and Duluth.

The MPCA has opened a public comments period between July 24 and Oct. 6 as it works to figure out the criteria for determining which businesses will need to carry out a ‘Cumulative Impacts Analysis’.

MinnPost reporter Walker Orenstein spoke with MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner about the latest developments.

A legal victory this week for 16 young people who sued the state of Montana over their right to a “clean and healthful environment,” as laid out in the state constitution.

The plaintiffs argued that the way Montana greenlights fossil fuel projects violates that right — and the judge agreed. It was a first-of-its-kind trial and a first-of-its-kind win.

So, what’s next?

Amanda Eggert is a reporter with the Montana Free Press and she broke down the ruling for this week’s Climate Cast.

For the U.S. to meet its climate goals, we need more clean energy projects — projects that require space on the electrical grid.

The trouble is: there’s a massive backlog. Some wind and solar projects have been waiting for years to be connected to electric grids. Now the Federal Electric Regulatory Commission (FERC) is taking action to speed up the connection process.

Jeff St. John wrote about the changes for Canary Media, a newsletter focused on solutions to the climate crisis.

Minnesota-based Cargill has developed modern sails they’re calling ‘WindWings’ that allow giant cargo ships to harness wind energy.

Last week, the first ever vessel outfitted with the giant 123-foot sails embarked on a test journey from China to Brazil. It’s said the sails could help the ship dramatically slash its fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Andrew Freedman from Axios shared more about the innovation and what it’ll take to decarbonize the marine shipping industry.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is expanding its electric school bus program using three million dollars from the state’s settlement with Volkswagen over exaggerated fuel efficiency claims.

This round of funding will cover the costs for eight more school buses and there will be future rounds in the near future. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency will run separate pools of funding for electric school buses.

Brian Timerson, who oversees the program for Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, shared more about the opportunities available to switch to electric school buses.

Drought and the nation’s hunger for mouth-watering french fries led large farms to pump significantly more groundwater than they’re allowed.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is expanding its electric school bus program using three million dollars from the state’s settlement with Volkswagen over exaggerated fuel efficiency claims.

This round of funding will cover the costs for eight more school buses and there will be future rounds in the near future. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency will run separate pools of funding for electric school buses.

Brian Timerson, who oversees the program for Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, shared more about the opportunities available to switch to electric school buses.

An increase in water vapor in the atmosphere is driving more extreme weather around the world.

How is that playing out here in Minnesota?

John Abraham, Thermal Sciences Professor and Mechanical Engineering Program Director at University of St. Thomas, shared more about the little known but growing climate concern.

Congress is due to pass a new farm bill this year. This major piece of legislation sets the rules for all things food and agriculture for the next five years.

While it’s still yet to be written, some say the bill needs to bring changes to conservation programs and crop insurance to help farmers become more resilient to climate change.

Michael Happ is with the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy and he’s been looking at the bill.

Minnesota leaders set an ambitious goal to be carbon-neutral by 2050. What will it take to carry out Minnesota’s green energy transition?

Here at MPR News we’re tracking Minnesota’s clean energy progress, in a series called Getting to Green.

We talk about it with MPR News reporters Dan Kraker and Kirsti Marohn.

Go Midwest, young man?

That’s the title of a recent piece in Time Magazine that touts the Midwest as a place people will likely move to in the future. So which factors make the Midwest a potentially attractive place to relocate?

 Alana Semuels, the author of that piece, shared more about her findings.

Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market. That’s the takeaway from a piece in Grist that points out natural disasters now cost the U.S. insurance industry $100 billion a year.

Lois Parshley wrote about the trends in the first of a 4-part series for Grist.

President Biden made a visit to Minnesota farmers this week to highlight investments in our region’s rural economy.

But with climate change-driven weather whiplash the last few years, how are our local farmers really doing?

Dan Guenthner runs Common Harvest Farm near Osceola, WI. He spoke about the challenges of farming in the face of climate extremes.

Insurance losses from climate-enhanced extreme weather disasters are changing the insurance landscape.

And this week, several groups have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the Financial Stability Oversight Council to call for greater federal oversight of the insurance industry in light of soaring disaster costs.

Anne Perrault, finance policy counsel with advocacy group Public Citizen, shared more about the asks.

10 percent of U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions come from plane travel according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

But a first-of-its kind initiative is looking to slash those numbers by creating a hub to scale the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Estimates show that SAF can reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions of flying by more than 80 percent.

Peter Frosch is CEO of the Greater Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, one of the partners involved in the effort.

The fifth National Climate Assessment came out last week. It’s an important report that lays out the impacts of climate change across the U.S.

In it this year is a chapter on the specific ways climate change affects indigenous communities — and why indigenous leadership and self-determination are essential for addressing the climate crisis.

One of the authors of that chapter is Mike Dockry, an assistant professor with the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources. He specializes in Tribal and Indigenous Natural Resource Management. He gave us a closer look at the chapter on Climate Cast.

A major focus of this year’s global climate summit, COP28 or the Conference of the Parties, is the Loss and Damage Fund which was established at last year’s conference.

The idea behind it is for developed nations to financially compensate developing countries dealing with the harmful — and very costly — impacts of climate change.

On the first day of this year’s conference, global leaders agreed to operationalize that fund with some countries pledging as much as $100 million right away. The U.S. plans to contribute $17.5 million if Congress gives the green light. Still, some say a lot more will be needed — hundreds of billions more.

Nfamara Dampha is a research scientist at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment and he’s taking part in the discussion at COP28 as a delegate for the Gambia. Last year, the small country was hit with its largest rainfall in more than thirty years, causing more than $125 million in damage.

As these climate events continue, Dampha says developed countries not only have a legal responsibility to help vulnerable countries but also a “moral and ethical responsibility”.

The United Nations 28th global climate conference, also known as COP28, just wrapped up in Dubai.

And this year a group of 20 students from the College of St. Benedict and Saint John’s University got to observe the heated discussions about climate change and fossil fuels.

Finn Dolezal was a part of that group. He’s a sophomore majoring in economics and minoring in math at Saint John's. He shared more about his time at COP28.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Electric vehicle dealers right here in Minnesota are using different strategies to convince prospective buyers from different political affiliations.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

The 2024 Minnesota Legislature session is a wrap. So, what got done this year with climate progress in Minnesota?

Walker Orenstein is a reporter for the Star Tribune. He says the changes to the permitting process for clean energy projects passed by lawmakers is a major step forward.

Looking to buy a new e-bike?

Well, the Minnesota Department of Revenue has a new rebate program to help with the costs.

Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bronson from the Department of Revenue talks through details of the program and how to apply.

Recent abundant levels of rainfall across the state have pulled Minnesota out of drought for the first time since June 2022.

Will this rainfall pattern continue? And how are Minnesota’s precipitation swings a symptom of climate change? 

Kenneth Blumenfeld with the Minnesota State Climatology Office talks about recent rainfall across the state and explains how both dry and wet patterns — sometimes lasting several months — are connected to climate change. 

Last year, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law requiring the state’s electrical utilities to transition to 100 percent carbon-free energy sources by 2040. 

That means replacing power sources that produce carbon dioxide such as coal and natural gas with renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydropower and biomass.

But how do you define “carbon-free” and what guidelines will be used to make sure utilities are meeting that standard? “We’re really hoping that carbon-free actually means carbon-free,” said B. Rosas, a policy manager with the advocacy group Climate Generation.

Rosas talked to Paul Huttner about the organization’s efforts.

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Lakes are a part of Minnesota’s Identity. 

While the thousands of lakes are cherished for their recreational accessibility across the state, some of those pristine bodies of water could — one day — help generate a vast amount of clean energy through solar power.

Matt Simon wrote about floating solar panels for Grist. Simon talked to MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner about floatovoltaics.

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Climate change-enhanced rainfall events threaten nearly 92,000 dams across the U.S. and many are over 100 years old — including dams in Minnesota.

Climate reporter Kristoffer Tigue wrote about aging dams and the risk for extreme rainfall for Inside Climate News.

Tigue joined MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner to explain how extreme weather events pose a threat to dams in Minnesota and the Midwest.

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Flash floods and extreme temperatures — both heat and cold — are having a negative impact on infrastructure across the Midwest. 

These extreme weather swings take a toll on roads, bridges and railroads, leading to headaches for travel and daily commutes.

Kiley Price wrote about the threat for Inside Climate News and joined MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner to explain what’s being done to address the aging infrastructure in the Midwest.

An increasing number of wildfires in Canada and the western U.S. is pumping smoke toward Minnesota.

But how much smoke will reach Minnesota? And how do meteorologists forecast wildfire smoke events and trends across the state?

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s supervisory meteorologist Matt Taraldsen talks about the wildfire smoke that sullies Minnesota’s blue skies and triggers air quality alerts.

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Climate change is putting stress on the traditional spruce and pines in Minnesota’s northern forests — and there’s real concern about their future.

So, researchers are planting trees from the southern parts of our state in hopes of saving our northern forests.

It’s called assisted migration and University of Minnesota professor Julie Etterson is studying if it can be an effective strategy for reforesting and fighting climate change.

Scientists are concerned that Earth’s temperature rise is accelerating, and certain factors known as “tipping points” could speed up the process.

What will that mean for the planet and what can be done to keep the planet warming at a fast pace? Andrew Freedman wrote about the new study for Axios and explains the research behind the warming climate report.

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Recent abundant levels of rainfall across the state have pulled Minnesota out of drought for the first time since June 2022.

Will this rainfall pattern continue? And how are Minnesota’s precipitation swings a symptom of climate change? 

Kenneth Blumenfeld with the Minnesota State Climatology Office talks about recent rainfall across the state and explains how both dry and wet patterns — sometimes lasting several months — are connected to climate change. 

The State Fair gates are open – but there’s a noticeable absence in the Miracle of Birth Center: birthing cows and newborn calves. 

It’s all due to the spread of avian flu, also known as bird flu or H5N1. So how serious is the spread of avian flu, and what does climate change have to do with the spread of viruses between species? 

Izzy Ross is a climate solutions reporter for Interlochen Public Radio and wrote about the threat of bird flu spreading to dairy cows for Grist. Ross stopped by Climate Cast to talk about the link between bird flu and climate change.

David Lipsky, author of “The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial,” talks about the history of climate change and those who deny the science behind human-caused climate change. 

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

A new report from the Global Carbon Project finds several sources of methane gas are on the rise.

Sahrah Kaplan, climate and science reporter for the Washington Post says the powerful greenhouse gas is “the fastest way to heat the planet and we’re doing that at an ever accelerating rate.”

Kaplan wrote about the Global Carbon Project report and joined Climate Cast to explain how agriculture as well as human influence are contributing to the rise in this potent greenhouse gas. 

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Climate advocates are showing strong support for Gov. Tim Walz’s vice presidential campaign. They point to his record.

“Walz was responsible, or at least, signed into law several climate action bills that are progressive no matter which state you live in,” said Kristoffer Tigue, who wrote about Walz’s climate record for Inside Climate News. “That includes a law from 2023 which requires Minnesota utilities to produce 100 percent of their electricity from carbon free sources by 2040. He also signed several other bills that do a lot to advance the effort to slow down climate change.” 

Tigue joined MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner to talk about Walz’s record in Minnesota and what that might mean for the Harris-Walz ticket.

“A lot of advocates and political analysts believe that the Harris-Walz ticket will probably walk a line that’s similar to what Biden has been doing in his last couple of years as president, which is taking kind of a moderate approach, trying to appeal to a broader audience, rather than appeasing a smaller, more progressive climate constituency,” Tigue said.

But there’s not a lot to go on.

“Both Walz and Harris have largely refrained from talking about climate change since announcing their campaign together, but in the debate with former President Trump earlier this month, Harris did address climate change, and the two have since released a platform, though the details on policy are still pretty slim,” she said.

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Minnesota’s climate continues to shift. The trend toward warmer winters and more erratic precipitation patterns continues.

“What we see globally and what we see right in our own backyards are the fingerprints of a warming world,” Heidi Roop, the Director of Minnesota’s Climate Adaptation Partnership, said.

She added that we should expect these extremes to continue.

“If we look out towards the end of the century, some of our future climate models show that our spring-time precipitation could be as much as 40 percent wetter and our summers around 20 percent dryer.”

She spoke more about Minnesota’s climate trends with MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner.