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.

Submit a question or story for Getting to Green here.

Climate Cast

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

Northeast Minnesota moose population low but stable
The latest survey finds the moose population in northeastern Minnesota remains low but stable for the eighth consecutive year, the state Department of Natural Resources said Monday.
DNR: NE Minnesota moose population stable but still worrisome
"We're encouraged that the moose population is not in the steep decline it was," a Minnesota DNR official said Monday. Still, "their long-term survival here in Minnesota remains uncertain."
Ag, DNR leaders highlight Walz priorities in Nicollet
Minnesota's agriculture commissioner and DNR commissioner met with residents in Nicollet Saturday. They covered just a few of the issues facing their departments.
This week, Gov. Tim Walz announced a plan for making Minnesota's electricity entirely free from fossil fuels by 2050. What would it take to make that happen?
Snow tubes, stream gauges and satellites: How do experts forecast floods?
The National Weather Service is predicting a higher-than-usual risk of flooding this spring, thanks to the winter's heavy snowfall. But how does a flood outlook come together? It takes lots of agencies, lots of researchers, lots of data -- and time.
Minnesota pledges 100 percent carbon-free energy. Is it possible?
Minnesota already has a 25 percent renewable energy mandate, and close to half of the state's electricity comes from carbon-free sources: renewable energy, which mostly comes from wind but also solar and hydroelectricity; and non-renewable nuclear, which doesn't give off carbon.
School lessons targeted by climate change doubters
As climate change becomes a hotter topic in American classrooms, politicians around the country are pushing back against the near-universal scientific consensus that global warming is real, dire and man-made.
Oil spill in Solomon Islands threatens World Heritage site
A ship ran aground more than a month ago, and a gash on its side is leaking oil. There's growing outrage that the companies responsible are not taking action to stop the environmental destruction.