Climate

Reducing the carbon footprint of the cannabis industry
Recreational marijuana is now officially legal in Minnesota but this may not be great news for the climate given the intense greenhouse gas emissions of growing the plant indoors. So as the cannabis industry continues to expand, how can it reduce its massive carbon footprint?
Withering heat is more common, but getting AC is still a struggle in public housing
Many people in public housing are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, and there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves some tenants struggling to pay for it on their own.
How much is climate change fueling intense heat across the world?
The heat is on for Minnesota this week and heat waves are making news across the world. How can scientists gauge when heat events are normal and when they’re fueled by climate change?
Biden looks to provide relief from extreme heat as record temperatures persist across U.S.
President Joe Biden plans to announce new steps to address the extreme heat that has threatened millions of Americans, most recently in the Southwest. The White House says officials are working on worker protections, improved weather forecasts and more accessible drinking water.
With Florida ocean temperatures topping 100, experts warn of damage to marine life
The startling 101.1 reading was recorded in Manatee Bay, near Everglades National Park. The rising ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, are already endangering nearby coral, experts say.
Concern about crops sprouts amid extreme drought, heat
Extreme drought and sweltering heat are sowing trouble for Minnesota corn crops and backyard gardens alike. Nick Peterson, a member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association Board of Directors and a farmer in Clear Lake, says it’s been a “trying summer” due to the complicated conditions.
How climate change could cause a home insurance meltdown
It's increasingly expensive and difficult to get home insurance, as losses rise from climate-driven disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. And the solutions aren't always politically popular.
Amid a record heat wave, Texas construction workers lose their right to rest breaks
In June, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law undoing local protections that ensured breaks for laborers who spend their days in scorching heat. The law takes effect Sept. 1.