Minnesota Releases Climate Action Framework Progress Report

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Aug. 8 released a detailed report highlighting the state’s progress in advancing its Climate Action Framework. Among other things, the report highlights that in 2023 and 2024, the state legislature passed over $1 billion in funding to transition to clean energy, to reduce emissions, and to prepare communities for climate change impacts.

The framework, which was launched in September 2022, outlines a vision for how Minnesota will address and prepare for climate change. The framework recognizes both short- and long-term actions required to help the state achieve their long-term goal of net zero carbon emissions, alongside a resilient and reliable energy network across the state.

The progress report incorporates three vital actions the state and other stakeholders across Minnesota have implemented under each of the framework’s six goals over the last two years. During 2023 and 2024 so far, the states legislature approved more than $1 billion in funding for the transition to clean energy, reducing climate pollution and preparing communities for changes associated with climate change.  Entities across the state have received more than $3 billion in federal climate financing via the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act since 2022. Federal clean energy funding is going straight to businesses across the state and the funding varies from federal tax credits and incentives to new energy infrastructure for solar power and transmission lines.

As part of the framework, the state’s first goal is to have clean transportation. There has been over $440 million in new funding allocated for public transit annually. The second goal for the state is to have climate smart natural and working lands. Funding is allocated to ensure the state’s forests, peatlands, wetlands and grassland are restored and will assist the state in storing carbon. The third goal as part of the framework is for the state to have resilient communities. Funding has been allocated for communities to prepare for impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat and flooding. The fourth goal is for the state to have clean and efficient buildings, as part of this goal the state has a target to be carbon neutral by 2040. The fifth and sixth goal for the state is to have healthy lives and communities and a clean economy.

The state of Minnesota will release an updated Climate Action Framework during 2025, following public engagement. The updated framework will incorporate projections on the amount of climate pollution reduced via specific actions.