Minnesota Agencies

The Advisory Council on Climate Change is established to advise the Governor's Climate Change Subcabinet in its duties. It will identify opportunities for, and barriers to, the development and effective implementation of policies and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate change resiliency; promote equity by examining how climate change impacts communities across the state and how potential solutions can address current disparities, incorporating the perspectives of people of color, indigenous people, rural Minnesotans, and other populations who experience disproportionate impacts from climate change; and promote a just transition for impacted workers and communities by examining the trade-offs that may accompany policies.

When Gov. Walz signed the Executive Order creating this advisory council, he remarked on Twitter that "climate change threatens the very things that make [Minnesota] a great place to live. That’s why I’m signing this Executive Order to create a Climate Change Subcabinet — bringing state government agencies together to implement bold, collaborative action on climate change."

The MPCA, in coordination with other state agencies and boards, will provide staffing and administrative support to the Subcabinet and the Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council will be comprised of up to 15 members appointed by the Governor. The Governor will seek representation from community leaders, individuals with experience in the business sector, agriculture, conservation and environmental protection, and other relevant stakeholders. The following individuals serve on the council:

• Khalif Bashir, Cultural Liaison, Willmar School District
• Mike Birkeland, Executive Vice President, Minnesota Forest Industries and Minnesota Timber Producers Association
• Christopher Clark, President, Xcel Energy, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota
• Eric Dayton, Co-founder, Askov Finlayson
• Wayne Dupuis, Environmental Program Manager, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Marco Hernandez, Environmental Justice Organizer, Communities Organizing Latinx Power and Action (COPAL) and Council Member, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs
• Lucinda Johnson, Ph.D., Associate Director, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota, Duluth
• Alexandra Klass, J.D., Distinguished McKnight University Professor, University of Minnesota Law School
• Patrick Lunemann, Owner, Lunemann Farms
• Ann Mulholland, Chapter Director, Nature Conservancy
• Micah Niermann, M.D., Physician and Vice President, Clinical Affairs and Medical Director, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
• Kevin Pranis, Marketing Manager, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Great Lakes
• Hilda Martinez Salgado, Environment and Climate Consultant
• Anne Schwagerl, Owner, Prairie Point Farms
• Dave Sunderman, Chief Executive Officer, BENCO Electric Cooperative