Inside Climate News
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Inside Ohio’s Revolt Against Data Centers
A colorful crew of activists helped spur moratorium votes in 10 communities next month. Now, they’re aiming for a statewide ban.By Dan Gearino COLUMBUS, Ohio—A four-hour legislative committee hearing in June, punctuated by applause and anger, offered a window into the growing backlash against data centers.
What Happened to Pennsylvania’s Hydrogen Hubs?
Backed by the federal government and bipartisan leadership, Pennsylvania’s hydrogen projects were supposed to create jobs and slash emissions. Now, they’re in limbo.By Rebecca McCarthy Three years ago, hydrogen seemed poised for a long-awaited breakthrough. The Biden administration announced $7 billion in federal funding for seven hubs to produce the fuel across the country, and Pennsylvania was set to be a major player in the emerging industry.
Food for Feed
This week, co-host Jake Bolster takes a deep dive into the global seafood industry with reporter Johnny Sturgeon and the Outlaw Ocean Project.By Jake Bolster, Johnny Sturgeon
How a Bid to Beat Drought Drove Corpus Christi to the Brink of Disaster
What started as a novel plan to build a desalination plant supplying plentiful water to the oil and gas industry has landed the Texas city in a financial and political quagmire.By Dylan Baddour, Neena Satija This story is a partnership between Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News and Neena Satija of The Texas Newsroom.
The Fishfeed Trap
The livestock industry’s search for more sustainable alternatives to fishmeal has gone nowhere.By Ian Urbina This story is part of an investigation conducted by an international team of journalists based at The Outlaw Ocean Project. Read the other stories here.
The Greek National Park Suffocated by Fish Farming
Greece’s $900 million aquaculture industry is sacrificing sea life as it slowly strangles one of Europe’s most important marine sanctuaries.By Johnny Sturgeon This story is part of an investigation conducted by an international team of journalists based at The Outlaw Ocean Project. Read the other stories here.
The Race for Lithium Is Becoming a Race for Water
In the arid American West, expanded mining intensifies battles in vulnerable communities over one of the region’s scarcest resources.By Johanna Hansel, Carla Samon Ros, Wyatt Myskow This investigation was reported in a collaboration between Inside Climate News and Columbia Journalism Investigations.
As Rival Resorts Battle in a Bahamas Court, a Threatened Conch’s Nursery Is Caught in the Middle
Scientists who study conch say the species’ habitat needs are more important than the needs of either property.By Kate Waxman Queen conch larvae drift for two to three weeks before settling into seagrass, where their first food grows on the thin green blades. This is where they spend most of their first year, buried in the sand.
Greece’s Seafood Problem Starts Elsewhere
One of Europe’s biggest aquaculture industries is linked to overfishing, pollution, food insecurity and labor abuses.By Johnny Sturgeon, Ian Urbina This story is part of an investigation conducted by an international team of journalists based at The Outlaw Ocean Project. Read the other stories here.
In One Historically Black Florida Community, the Drinking Water Is Brown
In Whitted, testing has confirmed the water is contaminated with arsenic and PFAS/PFOS. An effort to connect the residents to the local water system has moved slowly.By Amy Green WHITTED, Fla.—When Ann Jones runs her kitchen faucet, the water flows clear only some of the time. Sometimes the water is brown. Fill a pitcher, and the water is the color of iced tea.
Unpacking the Environmental Issues in Susan Collins’ Tough Race in Maine
The incumbent senator, once endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, is facing strong headwinds due in part to her fealty to the Trump administration.Interview by Steve Curwood, Living on Earth From our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by host Steve Curwood with veteran Maine journalist Kevin Miller.
Northern California Community Wants Stronger Oversight of Dangerous Refineries Nearby
Residents of a small San Francisco Bay Area town plagued by refinery accidents came to a community meeting to call for stronger enforcement and transparency about risks.By Liza Gross MARTINEZ, Calif.—Scores of people tired of living near accident-prone refineries packed an elementary school auditorium to hear what their government officials were doing to protect them.
Looking for Oil in Alaska, No Environmental Strings Attached
A Bureau of Land Management decision will accelerate permitting in the nation’s largest single tract of public land, home to a fragile, rapidly warming wilderness.By Anika Jane Beamer Oil companies will no longer be required to conduct environmental reviews before exploring for fossil fuel reservoirs in the Western Arctic, the largest tract of federally managed public land in the United States.
Michigan Spill Prompts Federal Probe of Energy Transfer Pipelines’ Safety
The spill just north of Detroit, similar to a jet fuel leak last year in Pennsylvania, comes as Republicans face political peril in Michigan.By Marianne Lavelle A crude oil pipeline spill last month in the Detroit suburbs has prompted federal authorities to open an investigation into the safety of all 20,000 miles of hazardous liquids pipelines operated by Energy Transfer.
SEC Issues Warning to Investment Firms That Challenged ExxonMobil
The commission issued a rare “report of investigation” into the largest asset managers and state pension funds, part of a broader campaign to curb investor activism on climate risks.By Nicholas Kusnetz The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an unusual warning this week to the country’s largest asset managers and a climate-focused investor group over their roles in a 2021 campaign that replaced board directors at ExxonMobil.
China’s Blue Mirage
Fish farming in Xinjiang is sold as proof that technology can overcome geography. The reality is a desert seafood boom built on political control and forced labor.By Ian Urbina This story is part of an investigation conducted by an international team of journalists based at The Outlaw Ocean Project. Read the other stories here.
South Baltimore Residents Grapple With Contradictory Incinerator Decisions
Residents expressed confusion and frustration as regulators shut down one incinerator and considered extending the lifespan of another.By Aman Azhar Around 100 Baltimore residents packed a community hall in the Curtis Bay neighborhood on the evening of Oct. 1. One after another, they implored the Maryland Department of the Environment not to renew the air permit for the city’s largest trash incinerator.
Wildlife Populations Have Plunged Globally, But Some Buck the Trend
A new report by leading conservation nonprofits found populations of thousands of vertebrate species dropped 73 percent on average from 1970 to 2022.By Kiley Price A new report paints a dark picture of the state of global wildlife—but also highlights flickers of light where some populations are on the upswing.
To Block Solar Energy Projects, One Community Lumped Them in With Junkyards and Adult Bookstores
A local fight in Indiana shows that even streamlined permitting can’t overcome deep community resistance to solar development.By Dan Gearino In Montgomery County, Indiana, utility-scale solar projects appear on an official list of undesirable land uses that also includes “adult-oriented businesses.”
Maryland Demands Answers as Fuel Leak Persists From Joint Base Andrews
Water testing across several locations continues to show diesel-range hydrocarbons flushing into Piscataway Creek even after the base says it halted the leak.By Aman Azhar Maryland environmental regulators say jet fuel continues to seep into Piscataway Creek from Joint Base Andrews more than six months after the spill was reported, despite the base’s assurances that it has isolated the damaged fuel system and stopped the leak.
In Harrisburg, Advocates Rally for Tougher Rules on Fracking
Concerned about surging energy demand fueled by data centers, environmental groups urge state regulators to increase minimum protective buffer distances around gas wells.By Marie Cusick Environmental groups and citizens are urging Pennsylvania regulators to increase the minimum amount of protective buffer space between gas wells and homes, schools and water sources. The issue has taken on new urgency as the AI data center buildout spurs more demand for natural gas.
Compounding Climate Impacts Drive Tropical Forest Decline
Extreme heat, drought and ozone from fire emissions are devastating the Amazon and other rainforests, new research shows.By Bob Berwyn Ozone pollution from fires, along with extreme heat and drought, is further weakening the Amazon rainforest’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, new research shows.
The American Livestock Industry’s Main Lobbying Group Treated Climate Change as a PR Problem
New research has revealed more examples of the National Cattlemen’s Association’s efforts to downplay and deny the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.By Georgina Gustin In 1991, Random House published a picture book called “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: ABC’s for a Better Planet,” in which the masked cartoon turtles trade in their signature nunchucks for signs bearing environmental slogans.
Maine’s Next Governor Will Walk a Tightrope Between Energy Affordability and Climate Action
All three candidates agree on the need for lower energy costs. Only two see a need to lower greenhouse gas emissions.By Delger Erdenesanaa, The Maine Monitor As Mainers prepare to choose a new governor in November, climate and energy issues may not be top of mind for every voter—but they are having big effects on residents’ lives.
New Documents Add to Evidence in Climate Deception Case Against ExxonMobil
Court filings by the Massachusetts attorney general’s office include previously undisclosed documents, revealing new details about internal deliberations at the oil giant.By Nicholas Kusnetz
Alabama Sets Stricter Data Center Rules. But There’s a Loophole
The new rules require more public disclosure on data center projects but still allow large projects to be approved without a vote.By Dennis Pillion
Scientists Urge Consumers to Stop Buying Products Made From Antarctic Krill
A new global boycott comes as major retailers withdraw krill products from their shelves to protect whales and other marine life.By Teresa Tomassoni
Retailers Warn Europe’s Fishing Industry to Stop Overfishing
European supermarkets say the industry needs a long-term sustainable solution to keep mackerel and herring stocks healthy.By Johnny Sturgeon Europe’s fish stocks are in such dire straits that even the retailers who rely on them are now telling the fishing industry to slow down.
Water Bills Surged More Than Other Costs in US Homes Over 10 Years, a ‘Striking’ New Report Shows
The price of water increased faster than inflation, grocery prices and median household income, nonprofit Food & Water Watch found in a new analysis.By Steven Rodas Drinking water costs spiked faster than inflation, grocery prices and median household income, researchers at nonprofit Food & Water Watch outlined in a first-of-its-kind report released Tuesday.
Development Becomes a Flashpoint in a Key New York House Race
Warehouse and data center development, backed by millions in tax incentives, is reshaping Rockland County, with residents losing trust in local officials and promising change at the ballot box.By Leana Carbonez NY-17: The third in a series on the environmental stakes behind one of the nation’s most fiercely contested congressional races.
Final “Grandmother” Cottonwood Toppled, Protesters Arrested in Arizona
Armed Border Patrol agents raided a protest camp in Lochiel, in southeast Arizona, making way for contractors to cut down the last standing cottonwood tree Monday morning for a double border wall, after protesters protected it for more than 70 days. Activists in Lochiel said at least 12 people had been arrested as of 8
Supreme Court Weighs Landmark Climate Deception Case Against Oil Companies
The justices’ ruling could decide whether more than two dozen similar claims proceed. The cases accuse oil companies of misleading the public about climate change and stymieing efforts to curb emissions.By Nicholas Kusnetz The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments from oil companies on Monday that could help decide the fate of more than two dozen lawsuits accusing the industry of deceiving the public about climate change. The claims seek potentially billions of dollars in damages to help pay the costs imposed by climate-related extreme weather.
New York Is Running Out of Room for Its Trash
Much of New York City’s waste ends up in sprawling landfills far from the city. Upstate communities say they’ve had enough of being dumped on.By Lauren Dalban New York City is running out of places to dump its trash.
New California Law Aims to Stop ‘Predatory’ Developers from Moving In on Wildfire-Ravaged Community
As many as 200 to 300 new structures have been permitted in Altadena, but homeowners who survived the Eaton Fire are struggling to rebuild.By Steven Rodas, Nina Dietz ALTADENA, Calif.—Sylvie Andrews walks among the brilliant white poppies, purple California grapes and olive-green thorns surrounding her yard’s blackened pizza oven—one of the only things that survived last year’s devastating Eaton Fire. But her eyes scan the block beyond, ever-aware of changes to her neighborhood.
A Colorado Water Trial Could Decide the Future of an Agricultural Valley
The San Luis Valley’s proposed plan to reduce groundwater pumping could restore its depleted aquifer, but it comes at a steep cost to farmers and an agricultural economy already under strain.By Emily Payne Water regulators and farmers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley are in a lose-lose situation.
‘Nature-Based’ Solutions Could Save Insurers and Policyholders Billions
Wetlands restoration and wildfire prevention can drive down insurers’ costs and skyrocketing premiums, a new study shows.By Emmett Gartner After years trudging through marshes around San Francisco Bay studying conservation practices, coastal ecologist Megan Kelso realized that one of the largest determinants of wetland health may not be an invasive species lurking with her among the sea grasses, but decisions made miles away in the executive suites of insurance companies.
SEC Move Would Make it Harder for Shareholders to Push Companies on Climate Action
Shareholder proposals aren’t legally binding. But companies can feel pressure to take them seriously.By Dimuthu Attanayake The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission wants to scrap a rule that allows shareholders to formally petition companies, one of the ways that shareholder advocacy groups have pressed for more action on climate and sustainability.
Our Future Might Be Darker—and That’s a Good Thing
An author argues that Earth may have hit “peak lighting,” and that communities are making changes to reclaim their starry nights.Interview by Jenni Doering, Living on Earth From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Jenni Doering with author Craig Childs.
Federal Judge Slams the Brakes on Big Bend Border Wall Construction
Work must stop, effective immediately, after a federal judge in the Western District of Texas issued a temporary injunction against far-reaching legal waivers.By Martha Pskowski EL PASO—Federal Judge Kathleen Cardone granted a preliminary injunction Friday to halt construction on the border wall in Texas’ expansive Big Bend sector, including the national and state parks.
Europe’s Extreme Summer Triggered Cascading Climate Shocks
A summer of record heat, severe drought and compounding impacts tested Europe's infrastructure and resilience.By Bob Berwyn During this past summer of climate extremes, more than half of Europe experienced dangerous levels of heat stress, the combined effect of temperature, humidity, wind and sunshine on the body’s ability to cool itself. In some places, that amounted to a “feels like” temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Long-Awaited Senate Deal to Speed Permitting Faces Familiar Hurdles
Amid skepticism from some environmentalists, clean energy advocates see the reforms as crucial for a transition from fossil fuels.By Marianne Lavelle, Dan Gearino The so-called “lame duck” session of Congress after November’s midterm elections could be momentous for clean energy as lawmakers are set to consider a long-sought bipartisan deal to speed permitting of large energy and infrastructure projects.
21 States Sue EPA to Reinstate Climate Pollution Rules for Power Plants
Democrat-led states and cities argue that the rollback harms public health and the environment.By Lisa Sorg More than 20 states, including North Carolina, New York, California and Pennsylvania, as well as several cities, are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its repeal of most greenhouse gas emissions standards for coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. The agency’s proposal would also thwart future administrations from reinstating the rule.
New Jersey’s Middlesex County Sues Big Oil Over Escalating Climate Impacts
The lawsuit comes as the Supreme Court is poised to hear arguments in a similar climate case against oil companies. A ruling in the industry’s favor in that case could kill dozens of pending climate suits nationwide.By Dana Drugmand A New Jersey county has become the latest local government to sue major oil and gas companies, seeking to recover costs from damage caused by worsening flooding and other climate change impacts.
As Negotiators Struggle to Advance a Plastics Treaty, Iran War Underscores the Urgency
Blocked Middle East oil shipments upended supply chains and prices for fossil fuel-based plastics, offering yet another reason nations must support a global treaty that shifts to sustainable materials, environmental advocates say.By Liza Gross As nations met this week in Bangkok for informal meetings on a United Nations plastics treaty, more than 70 developing countries supported addressing all causes and drivers of plastic pollution, environmental advocates said.
California to Vote on Landmark Tribal Petitions for Coastal Protections
The state is set to decide on a slew of proposed changes to its network of marine protected areas this fall, but how co-management between the state and tribes would proceed is unclear.By Claire Barber
Chesapeake Bay Restoration Obstructed by Federal Policy Shift, Tribal Withdrawal
A Trump administration executive order and a breakdown in relations with seven federally recognized tribes has raised questions about the project’s future.By Aman Azhar Two major challenges could complicate efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay.
America’s Largest Producer of Foundry Coke Is Operating Under an Expired Permit. Who Is at Fault?
County health officials told lawyers for an environmental group they would move forward with the permitting process after a legal filing asked a judge to force the agency’s hand.By Lee Hedgepeth BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—It’s time to act. It’s long past time.
All Hail Electrification. But Let’s Talk About the Hard Part
The IEA and climate negotiators want to set a target for shifting the economy to run on electricity. Upfront costs are just one of the obstacles.By Dan Gearino If one form of energy becomes the cheapest, most secure and cleanest, you’d probably adjust your economy to use more of it, right?
‘Mega-Industrial’ Trawlers Threaten Europe’s Ocean Health
Europe’s floating factories make up just one percent of the fleet but catch more than half the fish—and they cause the majority of environmental damage.By Johnny Sturgeon For Europe’s fishing industry, it turns out size does matter.
Regulators Release a Plan to Help Repair the Contaminated Roanoke River
Federal and state regulators in North Carolina propose a fix to repair damage caused by more than 50 years of toxic pollution from a pulp mill.By Lisa Sorg PLYMOUTH, N.C.—Fall had just arrived when a nor’easter began stewing in the Atlantic Ocean, its gale-force winds carrying the pungent smell of chlorine westward, away from downtown. Against the backdrop of dingy stratus clouds, the Domtar pulp mill loomed.
EU Weighs Delaying Methane Rules as Energy Prices Rise
Concerned climate policy experts and investor groups warn against weakening the landmark regulation.By Phil McKenna Amid political pressure and rising energy prices, the European Commission is considering pausing a part of its landmark methane regulation, which is set to take effect in January.
Watch: Climate Week Panel on China’s Global Development Push
Speakers explore how China’s massive overseas development push is reshaping climate, energy, and extractive investment worldwide.As governments and global funds pour billions into oil, gas, renewable energy, digital infrastructure and mining, the future of cross-border investment is becoming a defining issue for environmental protection and climate action.
Meta Announces Large Solar Purchase Agreement in Texas, But It’s Powering Some Data Centers With Gas
The new solar project is less than half the size of a gas plant planned for Meta’s El Paso data center.By Lauren Nutall Apex Clean Energy and Meta have entered into a power purchase agreement that allows the technology company to financially benefit from energy generated from a solar project in Gonzales County, Texas.
Mass Heat Wave Deaths in Europe Show Climate Extremes Are Outpacing Adaptation Efforts
As preparedness lags, many regions around the world could be overwhelmed by rising temperatures, climate experts warn.By Bob Berwyn A series of deadly heat waves from May to August overwhelmed Germany’s healthcare and emergency response systems and led to an estimated 16,000 heat-related deaths during the summer, the most heat mortalities ever recorded in the highly developed country.
Study of Groundwater Near Fracking Sites Finds Low Radium Levels, but Raises Concerns About Increased Salinity
Researchers highlighted the challenges of studying this issue in western Pennsylvania, which has a long history of industrial pollution.By Jon Hurdle Testing in a limited number of shallow aquifers near fracking sites in southwestern Pennsylvania found low levels of radium overall, but there aren’t yet enough samples to draw firm conclusions about the region as a whole, according to a new report from researchers at Penn State University.
Environmentalists Sue Federal Agencies Over Nation’s First Fast-Tracked Critical Minerals Mine
Federal regulators approved South32’s Hermosa mine despite identifying adverse impacts to multiple endangered or threatened species, the suit notes.By Wyatt Myskow
Long After Wildfire Smoke Is Gone, Heavy Metals Could Still Be Harming Survivors’ Lungs
A new study from University of Hawai‘i researchers links metals found in the ash of the 2023 Maui wildfires with impaired lung function.By Keerti Gopal After three years helping Maui wildfire survivors track their health progress, Dr. Martina L. Kamaka is used to seeing high levels of heavy metals in their bodies.
Incoming El Niño Is so Extreme It Doesn’t Have a Scientific Name
As a record breaking El Niño continues to grow in the Eastern Pacific, climate scientist Daniel Swain explains what may be in store for the next year as we brace for an El Niño “so far above anything we've previously seen, it doesn't even fit on the same axis.”By Nina Dietz Daniel Swain has made a name for himself studying the extremes of a warming planet. Fires, floods, droughts, heat, storms: if it’s a record breaker, Swain has probably studied it.
Drones Are Already on the Front Lines of Wildfire Response. Robots and AI Could Be Next
Federal agencies use drones to map fires, find hotspots and ignite burns, and researchers are testing robots on rough terrain and artificial intelligence in fire and smoke behavior forecasts.By Mosabber Hossain
Alito’s Recusal From Climate Case: Too Little, Too Late?
The justice’s participation in the Boulder case already may have been pivotal, and his continued stock holdings—including in fossil fuels—keep an ethics cloud over the Supreme Court.By Marianne Lavelle Justice Samuel Alito decided Monday to sit out one of the most consequential climate change cases to reach the Supreme Court, but legal experts expected continuing ramifications due to his ownership of individual corporate stocks, including in the fossil fuel industry.
Trump Slashes Fuel-Economy Standards in Blow to Climate, Health, EV Market
One observer called the move a "disaster for people’s health, the planet, and even U.S. automakers.”By Dennis Pillion The Trump administration Monday finalized the rollback of a major fuel economy standard for cars and trucks, a move critics say will cause more climate-warming pollution, human health problems and higher fuel costs for consumers.
How to Protect Yourself From Disaster Scams
Contracting fraud and misconduct are rampant after storms and fires. Experts share tips for the increasing number of Hawaiʻi communities in recovery.By Erin Nolan, Keerti Gopal This story is a collaboration between Inside Climate News and Honolulu Civil Beat.
Planet China
From electric vehicle exports to massive overseas infrastructure projects, China is having a big—and contradictory—environmental impact worldwide.By Kiley Price, Dan Gearino, Nicholas Kusnetz
Revealing the Invisible Injustice of Extreme Heat
Thermal imaging shows how people experience scorching heat varies depending on their circumstance.Story by Bob Berwyn, photos by Michele Lapini The extreme heat scientists have warned about for decades came to Europe again this summer, killing at least 30,000 people like a silent, invisible plague. It came for poor people, the very young and very old, and those suffering from debilitating conditions.
The Trump Administration’s Critical Minerals Agenda Comes for America’s ‘Forgotten Wildlife Corridor’
Under the banner of “Dig, Baby, Dig,” the Trump administration is supercharging an already powerful mining industry. What will happen to vulnerable plants and animals?By Wyatt Myskow, Carla Samon Ros, Johanna Hansel This investigation was reported in a collaboration between Inside Climate News and Columbia Journalism Investigations.
A Century of Sand Debt Comes Due in Malibu
A new study finds the world’s great surf breaks are vulnerable to climate change. In Malibu, the problem is more specific: a coast with few defenses, with a record El Niño winter closing in.By Kate Waxman On a clean summer swell, the wave at Malibu’s Surfrider Beach arrives from the south, wraps around a cobblestone point and unspools toward the pier in a long, shimmering wave that can carry a surfer for hundreds of feet. It breaks slowly, forgivingly, over rounded stones that were delivered by Malibu Creek across millennia.
New Colorado Neighborhood Could Offer Glimpse into the Future of Home Energy Use
The partners behind a project in suburban Denver think they’ve found a way to accelerate the adoption of residential geothermal heating and cooling.By Phil McKenna KEN CARYL, Colo.—A new residential development south of Denver is the testing ground for an unusual partnership that could transform home heating and cooling across the country.
‘Crown Jewel’ of Everglades Restoration Is Too Small, Report Says
A sprawling reservoir at the heart of the $27 billion effort to restore Florida’s Everglades is unprecedented in size, but a new report suggests much more reservoir space is needed.By Amy Green A sprawling reservoir under construction south of Lake Okeechobee that Gov. Ron DeSantis has characterized as the “crown jewel” of Everglades restoration will not be enough to save Florida’s treasured and troubled river of grass, according to a new report.
The Specter of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Looms Over Pennsylvania’s Rural Communities
The sewage sludge some farmers have applied to their fields for decades is contaminated with PFAS—with serious consequences for drinking water.By Ben Seal
After a Deadly Flood, What Does Climate Justice for Nepal Look Like?
“A country responsible for less than 0.02 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions is paying an even higher price for a crisis it did not create.”Interview by Paloma Beltran, Living on Earth From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Tanuja Pandey, a climate justice activist in Nepal.
Climate Crisis Is No Longer a ‘Distant Warning,’ UN Leader Says
The General Assembly pledged to help countries threatened by sea-level rise, but many challenges remain.By Dan Gearino This week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York featured pleas for urgent action on climate change, with heads of state and Secretary-General António Guterres warning that the window for action is narrowing.
Indian Point Energy Center’s Uncertain Future
As Indian Point Energy Center undergoes decommissioning in New York’s 17th Congressional District, complaints over the process are mounting against the backdrop of an increasingly pro-nuclear federal agenda.By Leana Carbonez NY-17: Second in a series on the environmental stakes of one of the nation’s most fiercely contested congressional races.
Why Germany Is Building an Ark for U.S. Climate Data
As researchers around the world begin work on the next U.N. climate assessment, fears are growing that the Trump administration could meddle with critical U.S. climate data.By Christian Schwägerl, Yale Environment 360 This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360.
Texas Electric Utility Only Considered Gas to Power $10 Billion Meta Data Center
Administrative judges recommend approval of the gas power plant if the utility assures ratepayers won't pay the cost.By Martha Pskowski EL PASO—While Texas officials have hit pause on data center permitting, one project is still moving ahead: Meta’s $10 billion, 1-gigawatt data center in northeast El Paso.
AI’s Meet-Cute With Climate Denial
Just in time for Climate Week NYC, President Trump calls concerns over global warming and artificial intelligence a “hoax.”By Dan Gearino Earlier this week, President Donald Trump responded to rising public concerns about artificial intelligence with a post on Truth Social.
Corpus Christi Could Owe Texas $235M for Failed Desalination Plant
City leaders hope to revive the twice-rejected project to avoid returning money loaned by the state.By Dylan Baddour Heading into election season, leaders in Corpus Christi face a puzzling question: what to do with $235 million from the state of Texas for a seawater desalination plant that was never built.
Foreign Fishing Fleets Are Robbing West African Countries of Key Nutrients
Foreign-owned bottom trawlers are emptying African waters and taking the continent’s biologically valuable nutrients with them.By Johnny Sturgeon Seafood isn’t just a key source of protein and calories; it’s also where millions around the world get essential vitamins and minerals needed to build tissue, fight infections and grow. Yet, as modern mechanized fishing fleets plunder global waters, populations in low-income countries are losing out.
Court Nixes Michigan’s Novel Antitrust Case Targeting Big Oil
The state alleged that oil companies colluded to delay the energy transition, driving up prices for consumers. The court was not convinced this conspiracy directly caused overcharges for energy.By Dana Drugmand
Super El Niño to Cause 451,000 Heat Deaths
Climate scientists are calling the hotter temperatures resulting from El Niño a “postcard from the future.”By Arcelia Martin More than 451,000 people are projected to die across the globe in the next six months from the additional heat brought by a super El Niño, according to estimates from climate scientists released Wednesday.
Asphalt Company Alleges Operative Who Posed as a Project Opponent Committed Fraud
Maymead is suing a consultant who infiltrated a neighborhood group opposing a new asphalt plant in North Carolina.By Lisa Sorg Maymead, a company that plans to build a controversial asphalt plant south of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is suing a consulting firm and one of its former employees, alleging they committed fraud, civil conspiracy and deceptive trade practices in spearheading opposition to the project.
Chemicals Linked to Breast Cancer Are ‘Ubiquitous,’ Study Shows
Hundreds of potential breast carcinogens taint everyday consumer products, food, drinking water, medicines, building materials and pesticides, scientists reported.By Liza Gross The more scientists look for chemicals that can increase breast cancer risk, the more they find.
In Rural Pennsylvania, Doctors Confront the Hidden Health Impacts of Environmental Disasters
Researchers are learning more about the long-term public health effects of living through extreme weather, especially in more isolated communities.By Marie Cusick In February 2023, George Garrow jumped in his car and hurried to help people impacted by a freight train that had derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
Competing Climate Visions Clash at UN General Assembly
While President Donald Trump pushed against cutting emissions and regulating technology, environmentalists called for world leaders to reject conflict and build a stable future with clean energy.By Aman Azhar Two divergent worldviews emerged from the first two national addresses on the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly’s 81st session in New York.
Georgia Residents Sue Over OpenAI Data Center
Residents and environmental advocates are challenging a county’s handling of a proposed data center campus, citing concerns over public input, environmental impacts and electricity costs.By Ryan Krugman A $20 billion data center campus announced in July near Rincon, Georgia, is now facing its second lawsuit from Effingham County residents and environmental advocates.
Pennsylvania’s AI Boom Is Repeating Old Patterns of Exploitation
A new study says the data center industry’s expansion echoes patterns of environmental and health harms that have long plagued the state.By Jon Hurdle Pennsylvania’s data center industry has promised economic growth and a revival of the state’s industrial strength. But a new report issued Tuesday finds little evidence of job growth and warns that adding more of the massive computer complexes could repeat a long history of industrial facilities exploiting the communities that house them.
Could Abandoned Mines House Pennsylvania’s Unwanted Data Centers?
As opposition to data centers grows, researchers eye the state’s thousands of acres of polluted mine lands as potential solutions.By Jessica Klein Almost nobody wants a data center for a neighbor. Residents fear noise and air pollution, excessive energy and water use and the loss of open land. In Pennsylvania, a hot spot for new data centers, researchers see an opportunity to solve some of these issues by taking advantage of a much older environmental hazard: abandoned coal mines.
Federal Judge Rules Against Trump Administration Over Canceled Clean Energy Grants
The Solar for All program was intended to provide dozens of grants for clean energy programs in underserved communities. The Trump-appointed judge said the program’s termination was unlawful.By Amy Green A federal judge has declared that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated $7 billion in grant funding for clean energy programs in disadvantaged communities.
In New York, Life-sized American Bison Puppets Inspire Hope for Restoration Efforts
Reintroducing the buffalo not only benefits Indigenous people, but all Americans, tribal leader Jason Baldes said.By Jake Bolster Standing on Manhattan’s High Line, Jason Baldes watched pedestrians, cyclists, cars and trucks braid their way through New York City. The executive director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative in Wyoming was in town for New York’s first-ever buffalo march, a showcase of 40 life-sized bison puppets accompanied by performances to honor the animal’s history and connection to native cultures.
Breached Earth Boundaries Raise Risk of ‘Irreversible Change’
A year of climate extremes offers the latest evidence that the planet is “out of balance.”By Bob Berwyn Scientists have developed an overwhelming array of methods to measure how burning fossil fuels, clearcutting forests and polluting oceans are harming the planet.
How Florida Ties Localities’ Hands on Everything from Environmental Regulation to Worker Protections
Florida’s coastal residents know to brace for storm surge, but during 2024’s Hurricane Milton, it was inland communities that suffered some of the greatest flooding. It took three weeks for water to recede from some neighborhoods, remembered Polk County Commissioner Becky Troutman. Her community, along Central Florida’s busy I-4 corridor, is among the nation’s fastest-growing
A Wake-Up Call on Climate, Costs and Corruption
On this special edition of Inside Climate, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse joins co-host Jake Bolster to discuss how Democrats can make climate change a winning issue in the midterm elections.By Jake Bolster
Climate Super-Pollutant from China’s Electric Grid Is Cooking the Planet
The nation’s electric utilities release vast quantities of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas. Recycling efforts could slash emissions at little cost, an Inside Climate News analysis reveals.
来自中国电网的超级气候污染物正在炙烤地球 - Inside Climate News
中国电力企业排放了大量世界上最强效的温室气体。一项Inside Climate News的分析显示，回收措施可以在极低的成本下大幅削减排放。
Whitehouse: Call Out the Corruption Propelling the US Climate Retreat
The Rhode Island senator, who could lead the Judiciary Committee if Democrats win in November, urges stronger messaging and a focus on Supreme Court reform.By Marianne Lavelle Democrats controlled the Senate and the presidency when Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse first sought to roust his colleagues from the chamber’s floor, warning them that they were sleep-walking into climate disaster.
‘Post-Disaster Gentrification’ Proliferates in Florida Towns as Costs Soar Following Hurricanes
Million-dollar homes increasingly replace small-town beach vibes, pushing out longtime residents and transforming oceanfront communities.By Mike Schneider Jaques and Paulina Sebastiao were the first residents on their street to rebuild their two-bedroom house two years after Hurricane Michael’s 155 mile-per-hour winds leveled almost every building in Mexico Beach in 2018.
For Climate-Vulnerable Countries, Debt Costs 25 Times More Than Climate Action
The countries most vulnerable to climate change are spending nearly 25 times more on repaying debt than on climate action, according to a new ActionAid report released Wednesday. The report, “Debt Fuels the Climate Crisis: How the Finance Flows,” is “really unpacking the narrative about how the climate and debt crises are supercharging each other,”
What Happens When Earth Passes 1.5 Degrees of Warming?
From our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by host Steve Curwood with climate scientist Michael Mann. As the United Nations prepares to hold a climate summit in late September, it’s warning that current climate policies will lead to at least 1.8 degrees Celsius of global warming, well beyond
Endangered Salmon May Soon Swim Freely up a Maine River. But as the Climate Changes, a Comeback Isn’t Guaranteed
Cherryfield rallied to remove the last dam on the Narraguagus after decades of habitat rehabilitation by local conservationists and landowners. They are committed to decades more.By Delger Erdenesanaa, The Maine Monitor On a recent canoe trip to the remote upper reaches of the Narraguagus River, Ellie Mason saw prime Atlantic salmon habitat everywhere.
Environmental and Public Health Groups Sue Over the Trump EPA’s Latest Attempt to Bolster Fossil Fuels
Environmental and public health groups are suing the Trump administration over its most recent move to eliminate protections against climate-warming pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency announced a plan on Monday, finalized in the Federal Register on Thursday, to revoke most of a Biden-era rule to limit greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants. The
Trump Targets Big Bad Wolves, but Ranchers Say Other Administration Actions Drive Their Woes
While ranchers support eliminating federal protections for wolves, data shows the predators kill few cattle. Trump’s lifting of tariffs on foreign beef, however, is hitting cattlemen’s wallets.By Jake Bolster, Peter Aldhous America’s centuries-old conflict with wolves took another turn earlier this month when President Donald Trump ordered the animals be stripped of federal protections across several U.S. states, claiming the action will provide economic relief for ranchers.
California Adopts New Limits to Rein in Dairy Manure Pollution and Its ‘Outsized’ Groundwater Impacts
Central Valley dairies are long overdue to face stricter regulations over their nitrate pollution, families and clean water advocates argue. Industry stakeholders and business owners worry about added costs and new requirements.By Steven Rodas The California valley with the most dairy farms in the state will follow stricter water pollution requirements following years of advocacy and a marathon six-hour meeting this week.
These State Elections Could Reshape Climate and Energy Policy
The prospects for state-level climate and energy legislation could hinge on the outcomes of just a few races.By Dan Gearino Democrats are poised to achieve trifectas—control of the governor’s office and both legislative chambers—in at least three states in this year’s midterm elections, and maybe even more.
Whales Have Rebounded in the Southern Ocean. Scientists Worry Commercial Fishing Could Threaten Their Comeback
Researchers are calling for stricter regulations on krill fishing in Antarctica as climate change shrinks the habitat of whales’ primary prey.By Teresa Tomassoni For the second year in a row, Antarctica’s industrial krill fishing fleet halted operations ahead of schedule after reaching its seasonal catch limit.
In a Hard-Fought New York House Race, the Environment Is on the Ballot
Democratic nominee Cait Conley will face incumbent Republican Mike Lawler in NY-17, one of the nation’s most closely watched House races. Here’s where the candidates stand on the environmental issues defining the district.By Leana Carbonez NY-17: First in a series on the environmental stakes of one of the nation’s most fiercely contested congressional races.
Nine Florida Springs Will Get New Cleanup Plans Under Legal Settlement
The settlement is aimed at addressing nitrogen pollution that contributes to harmful algae blooms in one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs in the world.By Amy Green Under a recent legal settlement, Florida will have to adopt new plans for addressing pollution in nine of the hundreds of freshwater springs in the state that constitute one of the largest concentrations of springs in the world.
Climate Change Primed Nepal Glacier for Deadly Collapse
A new attribution study shows how warming rocks, thawing permafrost and melting ice formations created a catastrophic chain of impacts.By Bob Berwyn Climate attribution researchers say “there is absolutely no doubt” that decades of global warming set the stage for the deadly rock and glacier collapse on Langtang Lirung Mountain in Nepal.
A New Bill Could Help Obstruct Future Energy Efficiency Standards for Home Appliances—and Repeal Old Ones
Legislation the Senate is considering would make it “essentially impossible” to set new standards, said one advocate.By Lauren Dalban The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources heard testimony Wednesday on the Energy Efficiency Reform Act. The new bill would make it much more difficult for the Department of Energy to update energy efficiency standards for home appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and boilers. It would also set a path for the department to backslide on existing energy efficiency mandates.
Court Rules in Favor of Feds and Denver Water on Dam Expansion
The decision allows Colorado’s largest water utility to triple a reservoir’s storage, despite concerns about diverting more water from the dwindling Colorado River.By Jake Bolster, Wyatt Myskow The unfinished expansion of Gross Reservoir near Denver can proceed after three judges ruled Tuesday in favor of the federal government and a water utility’s challenge to a lower court opinion halting construction.
Texas Oil and Gas Regulator Doubles Down and Defies State Legislature
After backlash to a new public comment policy, Commissioner Wayne Christian refused to attend a legislative hearing and cursed at a member of the public.By Martha Pskowski AUSTIN, Texas—A chair with Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian’s name on it sat empty Tuesday in the hearing room of the Texas House Committee on Energy Resources.
In Tampa, Community Gardeners Say They Need More Funding, Not More Information, to Feed Neighbors in Need
A new “equity-first” model claims to show where Tampa Bay should grow food for those who lack it. But what happens to the needs of gardens that already exist?By Kate Waxman In the East Tampa neighborhood where Dee Morales bought her house, residents have been asking for a supermarket for 10 years. They still don’t have one. So Morales did the math out loud: In the decade the neighborhood has spent waiting, a community garden could have grown thousands of pounds of food.
Congressional Republicans Aim to Shield Fossil Fuel Companies From Climate Lawsuits
The House Judiciary Committee will consider the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act as the Trump administration moves to roll back federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions.By Georgina Gustin Republicans in Congress are continuing their efforts to shield the fossil fuel industry from legal liability for its role in unleashing the heat-trapping gases linked to a cascade of deadly, record-setting disasters across the globe.
An Environmental Defender Is Murdered Every Three Days
At least 124 people were killed in 2025 for protecting their homelands, forests, farms and waterways from pollution and other harms, according to a new report.By Katie Surma Every three days someone is killed for defending nature.
Pushback Mounts Against Trump’s Attacks on the Endangered Species Act
Several lawsuits and a bipartisan letter from former agency directors condemn the Trump administration’s gutting of habitat protections for imperiled animals and plants.By Kiley Price A Trump administration rule eviscerating widespread habitat protections for endangered species just went into effect.
The Dust Settled. The Health Effects of 9/11 Didn’t
Philip Landrigan treated workers exposed to World Trade Center dust. Twenty-five years later, newly released city records and medical research reveal how the health consequences continue to unfold.By Alissa de Chassey Philip Landrigan learned about the attacks on 9/11 the way much of the world did when he was chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York: by watching television.
How the End of USAID Eroded Global Environmental Goals
An analysis finds the cancellation of $1 billion in annual funding weakened protections around the world and undermined U.S. interests.By Nicholas Kusnetz Before its abrupt dismantling last year, the U.S. Agency for International Development was one of the world’s largest funders of conservation, climate resilience and other environmental programs. The money aimed to curb deforestation in the tropics, help farmers and communities cope with extreme weather, increase clean energy development and more.
Latino Conservation Week Kicks Off at Threatened Arizona National Monument
The 12th annual celebration of Latinos’ connection to the outdoors focuses on empowering the community to protect public lands.By Wyatt Myskow IRONWOOD FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT, Ariz.—Cassandra Becerra didn’t know it when she first arrived in the U.S. from Mexico as a three-year-old, but she was already an environmentalist. Her family didn’t have much money, but they were rich in the abundant public lands that make up Arizona
New England Affirms Faith in Wind Energy’s Future
Maine just picked winning projects in a regional bid for new generation and transmission. Here’s what we know so far, and what comes next.By Nathaniel Eisen Second time’s the charm?
Trump Doubles Down on Climate Denial With Plan to Repeal Power Plant Rules
The EPA revoked limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, rejecting decades of settled science to argue that they do not contribute to dangerous air pollution.By Liza Gross On the heels of the hottest summer on record and a United Nations report warning that global temperatures are likely to push climate risks to “increasingly dangerous heights,” the Trump administration overturned most of a Biden-era rule limiting climate pollution from power plants, the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
What’s Next for Summit’s Carbon ‘Pipeline to Nowhere’?
While its Midwest pipeline languishes in legal limbo, Summit Carbon Solutions is urging Iowa regulators to fast-track its next round of hearings.By Anika Jane Beamer The Iowa Utilities Commission is moving toward hearings on the second phase of a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline, which would add hundreds of miles of lines to a project already stuck in a legal quagmire.
Jet Fuel in the Water
This week, co-host Jake Bolster and reporters Marianne Lavelle and Liza Gross discuss the polluting power of fossil fuels and how they are harming two communities in very different ways.By Jake Bolster, Kiley Price, Liza Gross, Marianne Lavelle
Is Wildfire Risk Increasing in the Midwest?
Fires burned through Minnesota this summer. It may be a sign of more to come.By Susan Cosier On the night of July 6, a storm moved over northern Minnesota near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The boreal forest there, composed of species like balsam fir, spruce and pine, was extremely dry after a flash drought and unusually warm temperatures sapped the trees of their moisture.
As Power Demand Rises, a Clean-Energy State Falls Back on Coal
To meet surging electricity demand, Iowa utilities are increasingly turning to polluting coal plants that had been operating well below capacity.By Anika Jane Beamer Before Iowa was the nation’s most wind-powered state, it generated nearly all of its electricity with coal. Since 2000, the fossil fuel’s role in the state’s power mix has diminished as utilities built a massive fleet of wind turbines that now provides nearly two-thirds of the state’s power.
The Alabama Legislature Was on a Collision Course With Alabama Power. Then Came Spring Break
Rep. Mack Butler thought he had a deal with leading senators to keep the heart of reform legislation unanimously passed by the House. He was wrong.By Dennis Pillion, Lee Hedgepeth Wired for Profit: Seventh in a series about Alabama Power’s influence over electric rates, renewable energy, pollution and politics in the Yellowhammer State.
How Alabama Power Escaped a Push for Tighter Regulation With Record Profits Intact
A bill that would have capped Alabama Power’s profits and forced the company to undergo formal rate case hearings for the first time in four decades passed the Alabama House 104-0. Then the Senate stepped in.By Dennis Pillion, Lee Hedgepeth Wired for Profit: Sixth in a series about Alabama Power’s influence over electric rates, renewable energy, pollution and politics in the Yellowhammer State.
A Super El Niño Is Building. Florida’s Most Vulnerable Homes Aren’t Ready
A strong El Niño is raising the odds of an active winter storm season—and the Floridians most likely to die in a tornado live in aging manufactured homes the state can’t even count.By Kate Waxman