Climate and Health
We are all affected by climate change. This can be through high temperatures, poor air quality, floods, drought, extreme weather and diseases spread by bites, like mosquitos or ticks. These changes affect our health and well-being in a variety of ways.
How Dakota County is affected
Dakota County residents could experience health impacts of climate change in many ways. This can be directly, like trouble breathing on high air pollution days. It can also be experiencing mental stress from a flood or drought. The Minnesota Department of Health created the Minnesota Climate and Health Profile Summary that highlights ways we're affected.
How to make a difference
Combating these changes requires a group effort. Here are some strategies and tips we can do to make a difference:
- Support policies and actions to lower carbon emissions, plastic waste, and air and water pollution.
- Walk, bike and use public transportation when it's reasonable.
- Try to not use single use plastics and add more reusable items into your life to lower waste.
- Explore ways to lower electricity and fossil fuel usage when possible.
- Waste less food by planning meals for the week, shopping with a grocery list, and composting food you don't use. Learn more about Dakota County's home compost programs.
Learn about sustainability work in your city:
The state is also leading the Climate Action Framework. This sets a vision for how our state will address and prepare for climate change. It has immediate and near-term actions we must take.
The Climate and Weather Homeowner's Checklists are designed to help Minnesota homeowners understand and prepare for local weather and climate risks. They address five major threats facing the state: wind and hail, flooding, wildfire, extreme heat, and snow and ice. The checklists contain suggestions for new construction and modifying existing properties. There options have a range of price points. Some strategies may require a design professional or contractor.
Incentives and funding for residents
In Dakota County, several groups have rebates and incentives. These are available for homeowners, businesses and farmers.
Reduce your energy use
Weatherization services can reduce energy bills by making your home more energy efficient. Two programs available to residents are the Weatherization Assistance Program and the Homeowner Efficiently Redo Opportunity.
Conserve more water
The Metropolitan Council awarded several cities water efficiency grants. The goal of the program is to improve water use in cities. Three Dakota County cities are offering rebates to residents who install water-efficient devices. The devices must be purchased July 16, 2024 through June 30, 2026 (or until funds are gone). The cities offering rebates are:
Improve your landscaping
The Landscaping for Clean Water program helps you plan and build native gardens, raingardens and native shoreline.
The Lawns to Legumes program offers workshops, coaching, planting guides and individual support grants to help you install pollinator-friendly native plantings in your lawn.
Learn more
The Minnesota Department of Health has a program dedicated to climate and health. Their webpage has information on health impacts and resources.
The state also has a Climate and Health 101 webinar that provides an overview climate impacts in Minnesota.
The University of Minnesota published its first Twin Cities campus Climate Resilience Plan. These plans go beyond carbon emissions reduction strategies. They analyze how they affect the campus community, infrastructure and environment.
There have been several recent studies published on climate and health:
- Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems
- Evidence for Greenhouse Gas Emissions and U.S. Climate, Health, and Welfare
- Global study charts a path forward for climate-resilient agriculture
- Scientists identify conservation areas to prevent extinction for thousands of species