Climate

What happens in the Arctic doesn't just stay there
This week's an extra wintry Climate Cast. We'll discuss how Arctic changes drive extreme winter weather, the psychology of climate change and how the cold drives a huge winter recreation industry.
Are there zombie viruses in the thawing permafrost?
There's a new fear from climate change: Bacteria and viruses buried in frozen ground coming back to life as the Arctic warms up. We went digging in permafrost to find out how worried we should be.
Is there a ticking time bomb under the Arctic?
Just what exactly is permafrost? And what is happening now that it's warming up? To find out, we enter the Arctic circle's secret world of ice and frozen history.
Facing massive storm costs, how resilient is the insurance industry?
The cost of storms fueled by climate change exceeded $300 million last year. We discuss what that means for the insurance industry, plus the implications of too much winter salt and how the media fails to attribute climate change to extreme weather.
Western mega-fires may bring smokier skies to Minnesota in 2018
Climate change and decades of fire suppression are creating prime conditions for massive wildfires to burn out West, and the smoke can create air quality issues in Minnesota.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says 10 more cities, including St. Paul, have joined the city's effort to address climate change after President Trump said the U.S. will pull out of the Paris climate accord.
The industry of climate change denial, and a warm Alaskan winter
We're tackling climate change denial this week on Climate Cast. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner talks to three expert researchers who study many facets of the so-called climate change denial industry. Plus, we'll hear on some extra warm temperatures in the northernmost city in the country.
Arctic report card: Permafrost thawing faster than before
A new report finds permafrost in the Arctic is thawing faster than ever before. The annual report card also finds water is warming and sea ice is melting at the fastest pace in 1,500 years at the top of the world.
UN weather agency: 2017 set to be among top 3 hottest years
The World Meteorological Organization says this year is already on track to be one of the three hottest years of all time, after 2015 and 2016, which were both affected by a powerful El Nino effect, which can contribute to higher temperatures.