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.

Birders argue over plan to change dozens of bird names
On Thursday, a major birding society will discuss how to go about changing potentially offensive bird names. There's resistance to the original plan to rename all birds named after people.
Push to map Great Lakes bottom gains momentum amid promises effort will help fishing and shipping
What lies beneath the Great Lakes' waves is largely unknown, but there's a new push to learn more about thousands of shipwrecks, underwater infrastructure and the impacts of climate change on the bottom of the world's largest freshwater system.
In Mille Lacs, divers go deep to uncover lake’s trash problem
On Mille Lacs, Minnesota’s second-largest inland lake and a premier fishing destination, concern has been growing over garbage left behind by ice anglers and other lake users. Divers from a nonprofit group based in Lake Tahoe, Nev., recently spent two weeks taking a closer look at Mille Lacs’ submerged litter to better understand where it’s coming from, and how to prevent it.
Minnesota trees in turmoil due to drastic seasonal changes
Minnesota’s trees are having a tough time. There was barely any snow last winter, leaving roots unprotected. Then the soil became downright swampy after an extremely soggy spring and early summer. Now, conditions have flipped to widespread drought in a matter of weeks.
Minnesota's climate law rollout sparks questions over what counts as 'carbon free'
It’s up to regulators to decide what exactly counts as carbon free — the key question that has arisen is whether burning trash and timber for energy should be a part of the mix.
50 years and flying: The Raptor Center hosts public celebration, bird release for its anniversary
The Raptor Center is marking 50 years of helping Minnesota’s birds of prey. Lori Arent, interim executive director, joined Morning Edition Host Cathy Wurzer to talk about its history and a free, public celebration happening on Saturday.