SnogBlogy

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

January 18, 2024

Take a tour of a fully electric and energy efficient home

January 18, 2024 • 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.

Take a tour of a fully electric and energy efficient home

January 12, 2024

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

January 12, 2024 • 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.

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

December 21, 2023

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

December 21, 2023 • 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.

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

December 7, 2023

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

December 7, 2023 • 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".

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

December 7, 2023

St. John's student reflects on experience at COP28

December 7, 2023 • 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.

St. John's student reflects on experience at COP28

November 30, 2023

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

November 30, 2023 • 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.

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

November 16, 2023

Minnesota initiative looks to boost production of sustainable aviation fuel

November 16, 2023 • 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.

Minnesota initiative looks to boost production of sustainable aviation fuel

November 10, 2023

Groups call for greater federal oversight of insurance industry

November 10, 2023 • 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.

Groups call for greater federal oversight of insurance industry

November 2, 2023

Farming in the face of climate extremes

November 2, 2023 • 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.

Farming in the face of climate extremes

October 26, 2023

Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market

October 26, 2023 • 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.

Climate change is wreaking havoc on the global insurance market

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