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.

These animals might go extinct because no one wants to eat them
Many species have gone extinct because humans hunted them into oblivion for their meat. But there's another group of animals that are endangered because we've lost interest in breeding them.
Workers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources intentionally lit a slash pile on Nov. 25, triggering a wildfire. It appeared to burn out in a few weeks, but coals buried deep in root clusters smoldered through the winter.
Opponents had pushed for a full environmental impact statement on the bigger taconite mine near Babbitt.
Where to spot birds in Minnesota state parks
Caroll Henderson, lifelong birder and a 42-year veteran of the DNR, discusses the over 400 species of birds that have been spotted in Minnesota.
For the love of trees, on Arbor Day and every day
Minnesota celebrates Arbor Day on the last Friday in April. This Arbor Day, meet some folks in the region who love (and hug) and photograph trees.
Buzz over bee health: New pesticide studies rev up controversy
Two new studies published in the journal Nature point to a connection between a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids and a decline in bee health.
Metro Transit testing electric buses for faster routes
Each electric bus would eliminate more than 100 tons of greenhouse gas emissions produced in a year by a diesel bus, according to the manufacturer.
Earth Day special: The Adaptors
Scientists and inventors explain their ideas for technological and engineering solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change. You'll hear about everything from innovative and futuristic battery design to the ethics of geo-engineering and human engineering. Alex Chadwick and Flora Lichtman host an Earth Day special, "The Adaptors."
McCollum crowned congressional hotdish champ
Its the fifth time Minnesota's members of Congress have faced off over who can bake the best hotdish.
Earth Day 2015: Easy ways to go green
Today marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. Read on for simple tips on reducing waste and conserving energy.