No one can deny that the summer of 2024 was terrible for the weather in Minnesota. We had tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and some of the worst air quality in the world. It has Minnesotans wondering, Is this what we should expect every summer from now on?
Summer in Minnesota usually means lots of time outdoors and on the lake, but this year felt different. Frequent air quality alerts discouraged us from our usual summer hobbies, and the effects of the wildfire smoke may impact our lakes for years to come. Research on lake water quality in wildfire-affected areas reveals that smoke and ash can pose potential health risks.
Experts say that these smoky summer days are likely the new normal in many parts of the country, including Minnesota. Extreme wildfire events have doubled in frequency and magnitude worldwide over the past two decades. We are seeing hotter heat waves, drier droughts, and stronger storms, all due to climate change caused by human activity.
Conservatives Won’t Fight for Minnesotans
While Minnesota progressives are committed to combating climate change through clean energy and green high-paying jobs, conservatives are downplaying the dangers of global warming.
In July, every conservative in the Minnesota congressional delegation, including Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach, and Tom Emmer, blamed Canada’s forest management for the wildfire smoke in the air, despite all of the research indicating that climate change is what is exacerbating the wildfires.
Wildfires have burned across the country, including in Minnesota, where Stauber represents, and which experienced a series of wildfires in May.
Minnesota conservatives and Donald Trump are using the same playbook to ignore and deny climate change. Every conservative in the Minnesota congressional delegation voted to eliminate clean energy investments in the most anti-environmental bill of all time.
The Trump administration has reduced funding for climate research and dismissed federal scientists who worked on the National Climate Assessment, and removed past editions of the report from government websites. Trump has put climate skeptics in charge of the 2025 Climate Working Group, and their most recent report is full of false and misleading claims about climate change.
Just like Minnesota conservatives and Donald Trump, the report ignores the overwhelming consensus that human activity is driving global warming to dangerous levels.
Fight back with us.
Minnesota families deserve leaders who will fight to protect clean air, green energy investment, and healthy communities.
Meanwhile, conservatives in Congress are using their power to pass the most anti-environmental bill of all time, instead of investing in climate change solutions. Join us to hold them accountable for their actions.
