Environmental News

MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

Getting to Green is an MPR News series that shares stories about Minnesota’s clean energy transition, including what needs to be done to get there.

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Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

Fargo house will research hemp construction material
Two new homes under construction in Fargo are offering researchers a chance to answer questions about the viability of hemp as a construction material. The homes are identical in size and layout, but one has hemp filled walls, while the other has fiberglass insulation.
Prairie Island Indian Community nuclear concern powers net zero carbon emissions plan
Residents of the Prairie Island Indian Community have grown accustomed to living next door to a nuclear power plant. It's a constant reminder of environmental injustices endured by Native people for generations. But tribal leaders say a new plan to produce net zero carbon emissions within the next decade will help Prairie Island reclaim the narrative of its land.
As species recover, some threaten others in more dire shape
Recovery of some vulnerable species through restoration efforts has made comebacks more difficult for others in peril. Once-endangered animals, including the iconic bald eagle, sometimes jeopardize rarer species such as the great cormorant by eating them or outcompeting them for food and living space.
Hiawatha Golf Course proposal divides Minneapolis residents
The course with historic ties to the Twin Cities Black community was built out of a marsh, and some say it should be smaller to cope with flooding problems.
U of M study: Without protections, many Midwest lakes will lose coldwater habitat
The study of more than 10,000 lakes in eight Upper Midwest states concluded that protecting or restoring forests within some lakes’ watersheds could help conserve critical coldwater habitat, even amid warming temperatures.
MnDOT exploring new pavement mixes to reduce use of carbon-intensive concrete
The experimental pavement mixes incorporate recycled bottles, fiber and other materials to reduce the proportion of concrete needed. The agency is also looking at whether it can sequester carbon in its pavement.
Extreme heat is becoming more common. What are cities doing about it?
Sweltering summer temperatures across the U.S. has cities looking for new ways to lessen the impact of extreme heat caused by climate change. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with three experts about what we can do to address the heat and the climate crisis.