Tag

Environment

All articles tagged with #environment

environment1 hour ago•2 min saved

Texas AI Data Center Boom Creates a Hidden Diesel Grid and Soaring Emissions

The article reports a rapid expansion of fossil-fuel–powered AI data centers—especially in Texas—that is creating a hidden “shadow grid” of onsite gas plants and thousands of backup diesel generators, driving significant pollution as operators exploit loopholes to obtain permits. Scientists warn AI growth could push CO2 emissions to 24–44 million metric tons by 2030, comparable to millions of cars, while residents have limited ability to block expansion once permits are issued.

via Futurism|

#climate-change #data-centers #environment

environment10 hours ago•1 min saved

Trump Admin Repeals Habitat-Harm Rule, Expanding Development Under ESA

The Interior Department finalized the repeal of the Endangered Species Act 'harm rule' that treated habitat destruction as harm to endangered species, arguing it aligns with the Act's intent and reduces regulatory burdens; the change could enable more mining, ranching and other development in protected areas, while opponents like Earthjustice vow to sue.

via The Washington Post|

#endangered-species-act #environment #environmental-policy

environment21 hours ago•6 min saved

Aerial analysis suggests Aspen Acres fire destroyed 780 structures, outpacing official tallies

A private aerial-imagery firm estimated that the Aspen Acres wildfire destroyed about 780 structures across Pueblo and Custer counties—well above the 192 homes and four commercial buildings confirmed by officials. The blaze has burned more than 96,000 acres and ranks as Colorado’s seventh-largest on record. The analysis, using high-resolution fixed-wing imagery and AI, excludes buildings built after Sept. 1, 2024 and may miss damage in smoke-obscured areas; officials say damage tallies currently focus on homes, with other structures potentially still being counted.

via The Colorado Sun|

#aerialimagery #aspenacres #beulah

environment1 day ago•7 min saved

Froggy lunch, surf-loving penguin and a standout treehopper crown this week in wildlife

This Guardian week-in-wildlife roundup highlights striking images and short notes from around the world—such as a garter snake preying on a pickerel frog, a young penguin riding waves off Rio, and protected goats on Turkish slopes—along with a feature on a treehopper vying for Invertebrate of the Year and broader conservation themes like desert rain frogs threatened by mining and England’s £60 million crayfish protection programme.

via The Guardian|

#conservation #environment #invertebrates

tech1 day ago•29 min saved

Microsoft’s emissions climb as AI-driven demand outpaces sustainability efforts

Microsoft’s 2026 sustainability report shows carbon emissions rose 25% in 2025 to 34 million metric tons, driven mainly by datacenter expansion and a policy shift away from certain renewable-energy certificates, underscoring that AI infrastructure is increasing energy demand and outpacing scalable sustainability solutions on the path to carbon negativity by 2030.

via The Verge|

#ai #climate-change #environment

environment1 day ago•31 min saved

Texas AI data centers could lock in fossil-fuel power and pollution

A Floodlight/ Texas Tribune investigation finds that Texas data centers, including OpenAI’s Stargate in Abilene, are driving on-site gas plants and relying on minor permits that could emit well over 100 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, with limited public input and enforcement, raising concerns about climate impact and local health as residents report pollution and quality-of-life issues.

via The Texas Tribune|

#air-pollution #data-centers #environment

environment1 day ago•14 min saved

Texas AI Boom Ignites Hidden Fossil-Fuel Grid, Sparking Pollution Fears

An investigative report shows Texas data centers are quietly driving a fossil-fuel build-out through 'permits by rule,' enabling thousands of backup diesel generators and gas turbines—forming a 'shadow grid' that could emit hundreds of millions of tons of greenhouse gases yearly and expose nearby residents to pollution with little public input.

via WIRED|

#air-pollution #data-centers #environment

science2 days ago•20 min saved

Genes load the dice in obesity, but environment tips the balance

Two recent PLOS Medicine studies show that genetics explain a large portion of how BMI tracks in families (about 79% for mothers and 94% for fathers by age eight), but obesity remains a product of gene–environment interaction. With over 3,000 genetic variants involved, today’s obesogenic environment intensifies genetic risk, and genetic differences may influence how weight‑loss drugs work. The takeaway is that obesity is not fate; biology shapes risk while a healthy environment can mitigate it, and understanding this interplay is key to tackling the obesity epidemic.

via EL PAÍS English|

#bmi #environment #genetics

environment2 days ago•4 min saved

Jackdaw gas field pitched as climate-light amid ongoing legal review

Adura’s updated Environmental Impact Assessment for the Jackdaw gas field says emissions would amount to less than 0.02% of annual global greenhouse gases over its lifetime and that replacing imported LNG could save about 4 million tonnes CO2e, but the project is still under scrutiny after a court found earlier consent unlawful and ordered a fuller climate review.

via BBC|

#adura #emissions #environment

environment3 days ago•3 min saved

DC Independence Day Fireworks Trigger World-Record Air-Quality Spike

Washington, DC briefly logged the world’s worst air quality for a major city after an 850,000-shell Independence Day fireworks show, with PM2.5 levels spiking to about 6.7 times pre-fireworks and all city sensors reporting air unhealthy for sensitive groups. The peak occurred around 4am, but thunderstorms helped limit the worst impact. The event, organized byFreedom 250, comes amid broader pollution-control rollbacks championed by the Trump administration.

via The Guardian|

#air-quality #environment #fireworks

environment4 days ago•8 min saved

Colorado Wildfire Toll Rises as Aspen Acres Destroys 263 Homes

The Aspen Acres fire has destroyed 263 homes and four commercial buildings in Pueblo and Custer counties, with residents being notified, many evacuated, and only limited returns possible as containment sits around 12%. Drones are surveying damage and more footage is expected, while crews continue to guard communities against shifting winds. The region also contends with Ferris, Gold Mountain, Willow and Snyder fires, each with varying containment and progress.

via The Colorado Sun|

#colorado #containment #environment

environment4 days ago•113 min saved

Chicago’s Deep Tunnel teeters at capacity after days of downpours

After several days of heavy rain, Chicago’s Deep Tunnel stormwater storage is nearly full, stressing flood-control capacity and raising the risk of overflows if more rain arrives.

via Chicago Sun-Times|

#chicago #deep-tunnel #environment

environment4 days ago•2 min saved

U.S. heat wave turns deadly as death toll climbs to at least 24

A brutal U.S. heat wave has killed at least 24 people over the past week as about 40 million people remain under heat alerts; New Jersey reported 22 heat-related deaths, with additional fatalities in Illinois and Mississippi, illustrating how climate change is intensifying extreme heat. The National Weather Service warns cooler, potentially stormy conditions will spread later this week, though the Southeast will stay hot.

via Axios|

#climate-change #environment #heat-alerts

environment4 days ago•1 min saved

DC air stayed in the 'unhealthy' range for hours after Independence Day fireworks

Air quality in Washington, D.C. stayed unhealthy for more than 10 hours after a 40-minute Independence Day fireworks show over the National Mall, with PM2.5 peaking at 212.8 µg/m³ in the Navy Yard at 3 a.m. The pollution lingered near the ground and persisted into late morning and early afternoon, according to AirNow data from the EPA.

via The Washington Post|

#air-quality #airnow #environment

environment5 days ago•8 min saved

Thwaites Timeline: New Studies Signal Accelerated Collapse

Three new studies and accessible explainers suggest Thwaites Glacier is melting faster than previously thought: an under-ice collapse could begin within a year, with the glacier potentially speeding toward the sea over decades to a century; visuals explain tides, warming waters, and feedbacks, with Marine Ice Sheet Instability favored, underscoring scientists’ call for drastic carbon reductions to mitigate future impacts.

via Daily Kos|

#antarctica #climate-change #environment