Under the Climate Change Executive Order (19-37), state leaders are united behind one common goal: identifying and championing innovative policies and strategies to mitigate climate change and achieve greater resilience.
To help identify the most effective policies and strategies, state leaders created a set of Action Teams to pull together subject matter expertise across state agencies and gather deep knowledge about different sectors of our economy and society and the challenges and opportunities each faces from climate change.
The Action Teams will engage with thought leaders, community groups, and other stakeholders to initiate new relationships, build upon existing ones, and actively seek input and feedback on climate policy solutions.
Green jobs and economy
Clean energy economy and jobs, clean and green economic development, workforce transitions, equitable access to job training
Chair: To be determined
Participating agencies: Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Labor and Industry, Dept. of Transportation
Natural and working lands
Opportunities to reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon storage, and improve soil health for Minnesota's lands including agriculture, forestry, grasslands, wetlands and peatlands
Co-chairs: Shannon Lotthammer, Dept. of Natural Resources, Andrea Vaubel, Dept. of Agriculture
Participating agencies: Board of Water and Soil Resources, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality Board, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Power sector and buildings
Electricity generation; fuels used for heating; energy efficiency of residential, commercial and industrial buildings
Chair: Aditya Ranade, Dept. of Commerce
Participating agencies: Dept. of Administration, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Labor and Industry, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Resiliency and adaptation
Climate data, projections, and tools to understand how our changing climate may impact communities; capacity building and preparation; resilient and green infrastructure
Chair: Katrina Kessler, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Participating agencies: Board of Water and Soil Resources, Dept. of Administration, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Corrections, Dept. of Employment and Economic Development, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Labor and Industry, Dept. of Natural Resources, Dept. of Public Safety, Dept. of Transportation, Environmental Quality Board, Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Additional advisors: 1854 Treaty Authority, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Transportation
Cleaner vehicles and fuels, including biofuels; public transit; multi-modal (biking, walking, complete streets planning); reducing vehicle miles traveled; transportation carbon pricing and markets
Chair: Tim Sexton, Dept. of Transportation
Participating agencies: Dept. of Administration, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Health, Dept. of Transportation, Environmental Quality Board, Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency