Overview
Goal: A clean and healthy environment that contributes to our state's well-being now and into the future.
A long-running ad campaign dubbed Minnesota "the land of sky blue waters," hinting at our tradition of caring for the environment: Forward thinking in environmental preservation, an array of natural spaces, laws keeping our air clean, innovation in "green" practices, and people who enjoy the outdoors all year long. But are we doing as well as we could be? As the world begins to clean up its act, are we still setting the bar, or lowering it?
What's happening
- The Next Generation Energy Act established a greenhouse gas emission reduction goal of 15 percent below 2005 emissions by 2012. In 2010, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 4 percent, which means the state will have to accelerate this positive trend to meet mandated targets for 2015, 2025, and beyond.
- Residents of Duluth and Fargo enjoy the best air quality of any metros in the state, while residents of the Twin Cities metro areas typically have the fewest number of "good" Air Quality Index days.
Making connections
There is no question that transportation has a major effect on the environment. Likewise, how our business sectors work to the good or detriment of the environment has an effect on the economy and workforce. Poor air and water quality also negatively impact the health of residents in the region, which brings down our quality of life.
New in our Library
- Cityscape: Climate Change and City Hall
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction 2013
- America's children and the environment
- Clean energy lead by example guide: Strategies, resources, and action steps for state programs
- The state of the great outdoors: America's parks, public lands and recreation resources
RSS Feed