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.

Stearns County under quarantine due to tree-killing insect
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has placed Stearns County under an emergency quarantine after evidence of emerald ash borer was found in the city of Sauk Centre.
The Environmental Quality Board is weighing whether to order an in-depth groundwater study but is also wondering if the Legislature will fund it.
Volunteers sought to 'adopt,' clean storm drains
Most Minnesotans are familiar with the Adopt-a-Highway program, where volunteers commit to picking up trash along a stretch of highway twice a year. That same concept is now being applied to storm drains.
On public lands, visitors surge while federal management funds decline
Western towns surrounded by and dependent upon public lands are forced to get creative as federal recreation budgets continue a slow decline. They are boosting local efforts to maintain public access.
Judge restores Obama-era drilling ban in Arctic
President Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed bans on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean, a U.S. judge said in a ruling that restored the Obama-era restrictions.
Cities around the world turn off lights to mark Earth Hour
Cities around the world — including some in Minnesota — are marking Earth Hour on Saturday night by turning off the lights in a call for global action on climate change.