Climate Change Publications: Reports and Fact Sheets

The MPCA and its partners have written a number of publications that cover aspects of climate change. The following list briefly describes some of these publications and provides a link to them. Major topic areas include:

• General information on climate change
• Emissions information
• Impacts
• Policy Reports
• High Global Warming Potential Gases
• Solid waste
• Mobile Sources
• Agriculture

General Information

• Global Climate Change — Fact Sheet: (May 2007) This fact sheet describes the evidence for global climate change, possible climate change effects that would impact Minnesota, and actions that the state and all Minnesotans can use to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Global Warming and Climate Change in Minnesota — Fact Sheet: (March 2009) This fact sheet describes the potential impacts of climate change and lists examples of actions you can take to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

GHG Emissions Information

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Minnesota: 1970-2008 (p-gen4-08) (January 2012). A report on statewide progress toward greenhouse gas reduction goals enumerated in the Next Generation Energy Act, including a summary of emissions by economic sector and by major activities, with long term trends and social and economic indicators.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Minnesota: 1970-2006: (June 2009). A report on statewide progress toward greenhouse gas reduction goals enumerated in the Next Generation Energy Act, including a summary of emissions by economic sector and by major activities, with long term trends and social and economic indicators.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Minnesota: 1970-2006 (p-gen4-05) (June 2009). A report on statewide progress toward greenhouse gas reduction goals enumerated in the Next Generation Energy Act, including a summary of emissions by economic sector and by major activities, with long term trends and social and economic indicators.
• Fourth Annual Legislative Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the Minnesota Legislature (lraq-2sy12p) This report provides an overview of Minnesota's programs and policies that impact GHG emissions.
• Third Annual Legislative Proposal Report on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions and Second Biennial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Report (January 2011). This report discusses the changing trend line of Minnesota’s GHG emissions; provides updates on pertinent programs that impact GHG reductions; identifies significant challenges and barriers to achieving greater GHG reductions, and lays out policy initiatives to address barriers.
• Second Annual Legislative Proposal Report on Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions: (January 2010). In addition to presenting new recommendations for legislative initiatives in 2010 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this report provides an update on the status of the legislative initiatives that were proposed in the 2009 report; a summary of the state’s major accomplishments in renewable energy, energy conservation and efficiency, transportation and land use, and agriculture, forestry and waste; and an update on greenhouse gas emissions.
• Progress in Addressing Climate Change: (January 2009). The first biennial greenhouse gas emissions reduction report to the legislature showing progress toward meeting the GHG targets established in the Next Generation Energy Act and the annual GHG legislative proposal report.
• Annual Pollution Report to the Legislature: (March 2009) Annual summary of air and water discharges. 

Impacts

• Adapting to a Changing Climate (August 2010).  Preliminary Report of the Interagency Climate Adaptation Team.
• Environmental Information Report: An Assessment of Stresses Facing Minnesota’s Environment: (2009) The report is an assessment of a wide variety of environmental stresses facing Minnesota, provided in a matrix format. Six environmental matrices are included. Three focus on human health, two on the ecosystem health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and one on overall quality-of-life concerns.

Climate Change Policy

• Progress in Addressing Climate Change: (January 2009). The biennial greenhouse gas emissions reduction report to the legislature showing progress toward meeting the GHG targets established in the Next Generation Energy Act and the annual GHG legislative proposal report.
• Results of the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group - Presentation to MPCA staff:
  (February 19, 2008) - The Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG) has made its final recommendations on effective and cost-efficient policies to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases in Minnesota. The presentation made to MPCA and other state staff includes a general overview of the process and the ranking of various options by net reductions and the cost of reductions. See also the MCCAG website.
• Preliminary Climate Change Action Plan Submitted to the Legislature: (February 2008) This was the preliminary climate change action plan required by Minnesota Statute 216H.02, Subd. 2 pending a final report of the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG).
• Minnesota Climate Change Action Plan: A Framework for Climate Change Action: (February 2003) The MPCA prepared a climate change action plan framework for Minnesota with funding assistance from the U.S. EPA. This effort included greenhouse gas emissions information and forecasts, a carbon sequestration inventory and a survey of stakeholders.

High Global Warming Potential Gases

• A Report to the Minnesota Legislature on the Emissions and Control Costs of High Global Warming Potential Gases: (February 2009) This report identifies the various sources, uses and control technologies for gases with high global warming potentials released in the state of Minnesota. The report was specifically developed to comply with Minn. Stat. §216H, and provides information that can be used to further implement the greenhouse gas targets and deadlines identified in the Next Generation Energy Act.
• Technical Evaluation of the Emissions and Control Costs of High Global Warming Potential Gases: (February 2009) An award-winning report on the cost of control technologies for gases with high global warming potentials released in the state of Minnesota.

Solid Waste

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction through Solid Waste Management: (February 2009) Advanced management of solid waste has enormous potential for greenhouse gas reduction. This fact sheet describes the stakeholder involvement process the MPCA is putting in place to develop an implementation plan to help meet greenhouse gas reduction goals set by the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group.
• 2008 Biennial Report to the Legislature on the Waste Management Act: (2008) This Biennial Report presents MPCA’s recent progress and directions primarily in the areas of conserving resources and green living, especially as a key component under the umbrella of climate change and reducing our environmental footprint.
• Stakeholder Process to Achieve Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Energy Conservation, and Environmental Protection through Integrated Solid Waste Management

Mobile Sources

• Air Emissions Impacts of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles in Minnesota's Passenger Fleet: (March 2007)  MPCA staff prepared a report on air emissions from alternative vehicles for the legislature and the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Task Force. The report looks at the possible future emissions from conventional vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles using different mixes of coal- and wind-based electricity.

Agriculture

• Environmental And Economic Assessment Of Ethanol Production Systems In Minnesota: (March 2008) This report outlines the production process and discusses the greenhouse gas emissions and water usage of current facilities. The report also outlines the most common biochemical process, costs and environmental consequences and briefly touches on the costs and environmental consequences of a thermochemical gasification process.
• Anaerobic Digestion of Livestock Manure for Pollution Control and Energy Production:  A Feasibility Assessment: (March 2001) Anaerobic digestion has been applied to the treatment of organic wastes for several decades; this natural process degrades complex organic molecules into stabilized waste and methane and carbon dioxide gases. Combustion of methane also destroys a potent greenhouse gas. This study demonstrates the economic viability of anaerobic digesters in Minnesota.
• Global Climate Change Technical Index: (January 2001) MPCA staff prepared answers to a number of questions related to global warming and climate change as part of the 2001 MPCA legislative report titled, “Air Quality in Minnesota: Problems and Approaches.” This index contains answers to many common questions about climate change.