Climate Cast

Minnesota Public Radio

4.7 (86)
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MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner with the latest research on our changing climate.

HACE 5 DÍAS

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 of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership is working on creating Climate Resilience Hubs to help give people community spaces that can give support both in everyday life and during emergencies. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Dr. Kent Boyd, a Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Public Health Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, who is leading this work. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

5 min
3 ABR

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 temperatures and extreme weather events here in the Midwest. But recent research took advantage of a 40-year ongoing experiment at the University of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve to study how this carbon is being stored in retired croplands. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Eric Seabloom, a professor at the University of Minnesota College of Biological Science who was an author on the research.

4 min
26 MAR

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, to a so-called Super El Nino event, which could have dramatic effects on weather in Minnesota, the U.S. and the world. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Andrew Freedman, a Senior Reporter for Climate & Weather at CNN, who has reported on the event.

5 min
20 MAR

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 accounts for around 2 percent of carbon dioxide global emissions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Looking to reduce its carbon footprint, the aviation industry is seeking fuels from more renewable biological sources. At the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative, researchers are working to commercialize winter oilseed cover crops that can keep soil healthy and also be turned into aviation fuel. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Mitch Hunter, co-director of the Forever Green Initiative and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

5 min
13 MAR

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 Minnesota working on solutions for managing those emissions. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Paul Dauenhauer, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the UM College of Science and Engineering, about the start-up company Carba, of which he is a cofounder. Through Carba, they have developed a proprietary process that converts plant-based waste material into biochar, a stable material that sequesters carbon and can be buried underground for more than 1,000 years

5 min
6 MAR

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 responsible for around 3 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Jennifer Schmitt, senior research scientist in sustainability at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, about what’s currently being done to reduce emissions. Plus, a snippet from a recent episode of This Old House Radio Hour about climate preparation is reshaping the housing of America. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

10 min
27 FEB

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 they disintegrated and collapsed into the sea. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Steger about dramatic changes he’s seen in Arctic regions over the past several decades.

5 min
20 FEB

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 percent coverage is rare, only happening about once every four years. Ice on the Great Lakes, and Lake Superior specifically, is a great way to measure climate for our region. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with UMD professor Jay Austin, about what ice coverage can tell us about climate change. Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

5 min

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4.7

de 5

86 calificaciones

Great Show!

30 ene

ycjih

Thanks Paul and staff for always bringing interesting and informative topics to our attention. I also appreciate the short timeframe, which fits nicely in today’s busy world.
Climate matters

13/12/2023

Musing by Me

Plus: your broadcast, points to the effects of CC locally with great effect. Negative: your broadcast, fails miserably at pointing fingers at the causes of CC. My quote: “fossil fuels are our destruction”! Neutral: people want/need hope. I grew up knowing our world would end in nuclear winter. Now I “believe” our end is a CO2 summer. I was wrong the first time; let’s keep our fingers crossed! I recommend a podcast called “Drilled”. Because!
Great podcast

07/07/2023

cjtannu

Thanks for the variety of content
My Favorite Climate Podcast

06/08/2022

Caran Quinn

Excellent topics. Impactful, but brief. Always interesting guests who leave an imprint and reinforce what I’m doing to reduce CO2. Thanks for all that you do!