Climate Cast

By Minnesota Public Radio

Business News

What's Climate Cast about?

MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner with the latest research on our changing climate.

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Climate Cast episodes:

04.18.2024
As hurricanes get more powerful, some scientists suggest a new category six
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...
04.11.2024
Climate denialism mapped to geography and political affiliation
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...
04.04.2024
Red and blue pitches for electric vehicles?
Electric vehicle dealers right here in Minnesota are using different strategies to convince prospective buyers from different political affiliations.
03.28.2024
New study shows climate change is already affecting food prices
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,...
03.21.2024
Record-breaking ocean temperatures
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...
03.15.2024
The green energy gridlock at the Capitol
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....
03.07.2024
Forecasting a record-breaking winter
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...
02.29.2024
What an unseasonably warm winter will mean for farmers this year
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...
02.22.2024
Climate scientist Michael Mann wins defamation lawsuit against conservative bloggers
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...
02.16.2024
Super current El Niño and climate change hit the Galapagos Islands
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...
02.08.2024
New ‘green bank’ for climate projects set to launch this year
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...
02.01.2024
Report pushes for more EPA regulations of carbon capture projects
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...
01.25.2024
Data confirm trend of warming global temperatures in last ten years
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...
01.18.2024
Take a tour of a fully electric and energy efficient home
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...
01.12.2024
Northfield's new housing development tackles homelessness, poverty and climate change
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...
12.21.2023
Minneapolis looks to fund climate action through minor hike in gas and energy bills
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...
12.07.2023
St. John's student reflects on experience at COP28
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...
12.07.2023
U of M scientist advocates for developing countries at global climate summit
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...
11.30.2023
U.S. report includes calls for Indigenous leadership and self-determination to fight climate change
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 —...
11.16.2023
Minnesota initiative looks to boost production of sustainable aviation fuel
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...
11.10.2023
Groups call for greater federal oversight of insurance industry
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...
11.02.2023
Farming in the face of climate extremes
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...
10.26.2023
Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market
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...
10.19.2023
Climate change has some moving to the Midwest
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...
10.12.2023
Follow Minnesota's green transition with MPR News Getting to Green series
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...
10.05.2023
As new farm bill gets drafted, some hope for changes to support sustainable farming
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...
09.28.2023
The growing climate concern of water vapor
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...
09.21.2023
United Nations calls for urgent action to protect children's rights
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...
09.14.2023
Farmers drained jaw-dropping amounts of water from Minnesota aquifers in 2021
Drought and the nation’s hunger for mouth-watering french fries led large farms to pump significantly more groundwater than they’re allowed.
09.07.2023
Some yellow school buses are turning green this school year
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...
08.31.2023
Cargo ship sets sail with 'WindWings' created by Minnesota's Cargill
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...
08.24.2023
Federal commission takes steps to speed up grid interconnection process
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...
08.17.2023
Montana youths win case against the state for climate change harms
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...
08.10.2023
Rulemaking process underway for new environmental justice areas
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...
08.03.2023
Reducing the carbon footprint of the cannabis industry
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...
07.27.2023
How much is climate change fueling intense heat across the world?
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...
07.20.2023
Planting 'climate-smart' trees from the south to save forests up north
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...
07.13.2023
How to weatherize and super insulate your home
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...
06.29.2023
What should students learn about climate change in schools?
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...
06.22.2023
A group of young people are suing the state of Montana for their energy policy
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...
06.08.2023
Some homes are becoming 'uninsurable' due to climate-related risks
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?
06.08.2023
Earth’s oceans are the hottest on record
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?
06.01.2023
Dams are an often overlooked source of emissions
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...
05.25.2023
U of M to oversee multi-state effort to help unlock federal funding for climate projects
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...
05.18.2023
It's been a smoky week — what's the forecast ahead for air quality and wildfires?
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...
05.11.2023
A U of M initiative looks to create climate-informed health care professionals
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...
05.04.2023
Clean energy will require more power lines, but who should get to build them?
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...
04.27.2023
The city of Minneapolis seeks input on new climate equity plan
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...
04.15.2023
A new battery could soon make 1,000-mile-range EVs a reality
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...
04.15.2023
Minnesota's solar garden program ranks second in the nation, but some say it could do more
The latest United Nations climate report urges that the window of opportunity to prevent catastrophic climate change still exists — but is closing fast. What role do states, including Minnesota, play in keeping that window open?

What's Climate Cast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Climate Cast episodes:

As hurricanes get more powerful, some scientists suggest a new category six

Climate denialism mapped to geography and political affiliation

Red and blue pitches for electric vehicles?

New study shows climate change is already affecting food prices

Record-breaking ocean temperatures

The green energy gridlock at the Capitol

Forecasting a record-breaking winter

What an unseasonably warm winter will mean for farmers this year

Climate scientist Michael Mann wins defamation lawsuit against conservative bloggers

Super current El Niño and climate change hit the Galapagos Islands

New ‘green bank’ for climate projects set to launch this year

Report pushes for more EPA regulations of carbon capture projects

Data confirm trend of warming global temperatures in last ten years

Take a tour of a fully electric and energy efficient home

Northfield's new housing development tackles homelessness, poverty and climate change

Minneapolis looks to fund climate action through minor hike in gas and energy bills

St. John's student reflects on experience at COP28

U of M scientist advocates for developing countries at global climate summit

U.S. report includes calls for Indigenous leadership and self-determination to fight climate change

Minnesota initiative looks to boost production of sustainable aviation fuel

Groups call for greater federal oversight of insurance industry

Farming in the face of climate extremes

Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market

Climate change has some moving to the Midwest

Follow Minnesota's green transition with MPR News Getting to Green series

As new farm bill gets drafted, some hope for changes to support sustainable farming

The growing climate concern of water vapor

United Nations calls for urgent action to protect children's rights

Farmers drained jaw-dropping amounts of water from Minnesota aquifers in 2021

Some yellow school buses are turning green this school year

Cargo ship sets sail with 'WindWings' created by Minnesota's Cargill

Federal commission takes steps to speed up grid interconnection process

Montana youths win case against the state for climate change harms

Rulemaking process underway for new environmental justice areas

Reducing the carbon footprint of the cannabis industry

How much is climate change fueling intense heat across the world?

Planting 'climate-smart' trees from the south to save forests up north

How to weatherize and super insulate your home

What should students learn about climate change in schools?

A group of young people are suing the state of Montana for their energy policy

Some homes are becoming 'uninsurable' due to climate-related risks

Earth’s oceans are the hottest on record

Dams are an often overlooked source of emissions

U of M to oversee multi-state effort to help unlock federal funding for climate projects

It's been a smoky week — what's the forecast ahead for air quality and wildfires?

A U of M initiative looks to create climate-informed health care professionals

Clean energy will require more power lines, but who should get to build them?

The city of Minneapolis seeks input on new climate equity plan

A new battery could soon make 1,000-mile-range EVs a reality

Minnesota's solar garden program ranks second in the nation, but some say it could do more