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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Earth’s oceans are the hottest on record. That’s the finding from a recent paper in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. What effects could this have globally and in Minnesota?

Earth’s oceans are the hottest on record. That’s the finding from a recent paper in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. What effects could this have globally and in Minnesota?

It’s said that water is life and trying to control and store water through massive dam projects has been a way of life for a long time, especially in the western U.S.   But it turns out dams emit greenhouse gas and can have environmental impacts. Just how much do they emit and why are some rivers better off left to flow naturally?  Stephen Hawley, author of Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World, discusses what a world without dams could bring.

The search is on for an electric vehicle with a 1,000-mile range. And a new dime-sized battery may be a step in that direction. Mohammad Asadi is a chemical engineer at Illinois Tech who was one of the people behind the discovery. He spoke with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about the new technology and other potential uses for it.

The search is on for an electric vehicle with a 1,000-mile range. And a new dime-sized battery may be a step in that direction. Mohammad Asadi is a chemical engineer at Illinois Tech who was one of the people behind the discovery. He spoke with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about the new technology and other potential uses for it.

The search is on for an electric vehicle with a 1,000-mile range. And a new dime-sized battery may be a step in that direction. Mohammad Asadi is a chemical engineer at Illinois Tech who was one of the people behind the discovery. He spoke with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about the new technology and other potential uses for it.

The search is on for an electric vehicle with a 1,000-mile range. And a new dime-sized battery may be a step in that direction. Mohammad Asadi is a chemical engineer at Illinois Tech who was one of the people behind the discovery. He spoke with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about the new technology and other potential uses for it.