Climate Cast

Climate Cast: As ships sit in Strait of Hormuz, invasive species hitch a ride

Invasive species play the long game. They travel well, dig in to survive wherever they’re dropped off and then start multiplying, making it nearly impossible to root them

When powerful windstorms become more common, wildlife feel the impact

Derechos are devastating, fast-moving bands of thunderstorms capable of producing destructive winds. Minnesota has experienced several, including the Boundary Waters blow

On softball night, Minnesota climate experts feel the heat

If you’ve attended or played in a softball or baseball game this summer, you likely share something in common with a lot of Minnesotans. The intense heat, coupled with th

Learning from deadliest disaster in Minnesota history

What would you guess is the deadliest disaster in Minnesota history? A wildfire? Blizzard? Tornado? It was none of those. In 1936, a long-term heat wave killed at least 9

Paul Huttner signs off after 13 years of hosting Climate Cast

For years, Climate Cast has been a place to make sense of a changing planet — explaining the science, the solutions and the people behind the issue. MPR News chief meteo

How resilience hubs are giving climate aid before, during, and after a crisis

With climate change exposing communities to more dangerous weather conditions and amplifying diseases, experts say more people need resources to adapt. The University o

How a Minnesota research team finds carbon a home in retired croplands

Burning fossil fuels is one of the primary drivers of climate change, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing changes including increased t

El Niño could affect Minnesota's weather this year

Warmer waters building in the tropical Pacific Ocean are suggesting an El Nino event developing late this year. Forecasts predict an event range from a moderate El Nino,

How cover crops are creating renewable jet fuel

The transportation sector is a large contributor to climate change, accounting for about 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Within that sector, aviation a

How a Minnesota startup is taking carbon out of the atmosphere

Fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for nearly 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. But there are people here in M

What's the carbon 'hoofprint' of the American beef industry?

The United States is among the world’s largest beef producers, producing some 12 million tons in 2025. But cattle generate a lot of emissions. The beef industry alone is

The impact of climate change on Earth's polar regions

Minnesota Arctic explorer Will Steger has trekked across thousands of miles of ice in both the north and South Poles, crossing the Larsen Ice Shelves a few years before t

What does ice on Lake Superior tell us about climate change?

The last time Lake Superior completely froze over was 30 years ago in 1996. Around that time, Lake Superior was consistently at least 75 percent frozen over. Now, 75 perc

What’s new in Minnesota’s revised climate action plan

In 2022, The State of Minnesota created their Climate Action Framework, a plan that sets a vision for how Minnesota will address and prepare for climate change. As of Feb

Climate normals downplay just how fast Minnesota is warming

NOAA data shows that winters have warmed more than five degrees on average since 1970. And last two years were some of the warmest on record, dating back to the late 1880

What impact does the American prairie have on our climate?

Minnesota’s prairie, in the southwestern part of the state, is a biodiverse ecosystem that’s home to buffalo, bees and tall grass. In the book, "Sea of Grass: The Conqu

How a program trains residents to take action on climate

The University of Minnesota’s Community Climate Leaders program connects students with actionable climate science, impact strategies, and a local network of peers. Christ

How warmer ocean temperatures cause stronger and wetter storms, even in Minnesota

Earth’s oceans continued to reach record-high temperatures in 2025. And those hotter oceans are fueling stronger and wetter storms. St. Thomas University researcher John

Minnesota researchers drill for million-year-old ice in Antarctica

Beneath the harsh winds and temperature of Antarctica, scientists have identified ice cores that give new insights into Earth’s past. Martin Froger Silva works with the

How climate change is driving up the cost of home insurance

It’s not your imagination — the cost of your home insurance is going up. Weather-related extreme events have sent homeowners’ insurance rates skyrocketing. Federal budg