What's New

In 2007, the Minnesota legislature and the Governor set greenhouse gas emission reduction goals of 15 percent by 2015, 30 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050.  In May 2008, the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group included in it’s recommendations for hitting these emission reduction goals the implementation of a cap and trade program to limit and lower global warming pollution from major sources in Minnesota.

 

Brief Summary

More and more Minnesotans are concerned about what global warming will mean for the health and well-being of our special places and our future generations. Environment Minnesota is working here in Minnesota and at the federal level to reduce global warming pollution by at least 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050—the science-based reductions needed to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

A temperature increase of beyond 2º C could cause serious, irreversible impacts such as:

·    Collapse of unique ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest.

·    Increasingly high risk of extinction of 20 to 30 percent of the world’s species (as opposed to smaller species losses with less-extreme global warming).

·    Increased loss of coastal wetlands and increased risk of coastal flooding from sea-level rise (as opposed to lower risks with less-extreme global warming).

·    Accelerated slow-down of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation, which could have large and difficult-to-predict impacts on climate.

·    Near-complete melting of the Greenland ice sheet, which would raise sea level by 23 feet over the course of millennia (and possibly much faster), and possible melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet, which would increase sea level by 5 to 16 feet.

·    Further increased risk of extreme weather events (such as more powerful hurricanes), as well as increased flooding, wildfires and drought in many areas.

·    Greater risk of crossing “tipping points” that would accelerate climate change, such as the release of methane from melting permafrost and conversion of ecosystems from net carbon sinks to net carbon sources.

A 2008 Environment Minnesota report, Feeling the Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures in the United States found that the average temperature in Minnesota in 2007 was the warmest on record.  Average minimum temperatures recorded at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were 3.3 degrees above the 30-year average.  Two or three degrees may not seem like much, but just like in people, a small, relatively rapid temperature rise can have serious consequences.  In Minnesota, unchecked global warming threatens to not only increase the frequency and severity of heat-waves in the Twin Cities and other metro areas across the state, but also to lower our lake levels in the summertime and decrease the ice cover on our lakes during the wintertime.  According to a 2007 Environment America report, When It Rains, It Pours in addition to rising temperatures, global warming will also cause more frequent and extreme snowstorms and rainstorms, driving more frequent periods of drought in between.  Our report found that in Minnesota experienced a 34% percent increase in extreme rainstorms from 1948 to 2006.  Scientists believe that if we act now, and if we act decisively, we can avoid the most catastrophic impacts of global warming.