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.

Dams are an often overlooked source of greenhouse gas emissions
It turns out dams emit greenhouse gas — a lot of it. Just how much do they emit and why are some rivers better off left to flow naturally? Steven Hawley, author of “Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World,” discusses what a world without dams could bring.
Road fixes, wastewater upgrades and more: Walz signs $2.6 billion capital investment bills
For the first time since 2020, state lawmakers approved a funding bill that will pay for dozens of road and bridge, wastewater treatment and building repair projects around the state.
Tourist pleads guilty for handling a Yellowstone bison calf, leading to its death
The Hawaii resident was charged with one count of intentionally disturbing wildlife after he tried to help a baby bison return to its herd. Park rangers later had to euthanize the abandoned animal.
St. Paul's Como Zoo has a too-cute new snow leopard cub
A new furball arrived at St. Paul’s Como Zoo in recent weeks: a cub born to snow leopards Alya and Moutig. It’s a second cub for the pair, who are part of national effort to preserve and bolster the vulnerable, iconic species.
Train carrying hazardous material derails in NW Minnesota; no injuries or evacuations reported
Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway said some of the cars that derailed near Lancaster, Minn., were carrying hazardous materials, but said “the initial assessment by first responders on the scene is that there are no leaks from the rail cars.”
DNR to rewrite mining rules to prevent noise and light pollution in Boundary Waters 
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it intends to rewrite its mining rules to better protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area from noise and light pollution, by expanding a mining buffer zone around the wilderness.
An alleged Russian spy whale is in Sweden — and danger. Here's why his tale matters
Hvaldimir unexpectedly headed south after several years in Norway, fueling concerns and efforts to bring him to safety. Experts say his story shines a light on how humans treat animals in general.