Climate Cast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.