Inside Climate News
Iowa’s Cancer Crisis Linked to Pesticides, PFAS, Fertilizer and Radon, Report Says
Iowa faces a worsening cancer burden tied to its agricultural identity, with a new report from the Harkin Institute and Iowa Environmental Council pointing to pesticides, fertilizers, PFAS contamination, and radon as key environmental drivers. The state's dominance in corn production comes at a cost, as heavy chemical use appears to be fueling elevated diagnosis rates at a time when cancer is declining elsewhere. The findings put pressure on policymakers to weigh public health consequences against the state's agricultural economy.
Read article →Guardian Environment
Sewage released into England’s rivers and seas nearly 300,000 times last year
England's water companies discharged raw sewage into rivers and seas nearly 300,000 times last year, despite the country experiencing its driest spring in over a century. The 291,492 spills from storm overflows — infrastructure designed exclusively for extreme wet weather — drew sharp criticism from campaigners who argue the frequency exposes systemic misuse by water firms. Though the figure represents a 35% drop from record 2024 levels, critics say the scale of pollution during a drought year underscores how far the industry remains from acceptable standards.
Read article →Grist
Modern agriculture is collapsing under climate change. Indigenous farming has answers.
A sweeping new global review finds that while indigenous and traditional farming practices are widely championed as climate solutions, the actual evidence supporting their large-scale adoption remains thin. The study identifies a troubling disconnect between enthusiastic advocacy and rigorous proof of impact. Closing that gap will be essential if traditional agriculture is to play a meaningful role in feeding a warming world.
Read article →Yale Environment 360
As It Boosts Renewables, China Still Can't Break Its Coal Addiction
China is installing renewable energy at a record pace, yet continues to greenlight new coal-fired power plants with equal enthusiasm. The country's latest five-year plan locks in further coal expansion, raising serious doubts about whether Beijing can meet its own climate commitments. For global emissions targets, the world's largest carbon emitter running both tracks simultaneously is a problem that no amount of solar panels can offset.
Read article →Inside Climate News
Two Wildly Different Data Centers Reveal a ‘Fork in the Road’ on How to Meet Electricity Demand
Google's proposed Michigan data center represents a significant departure from industry norms, pairing renewable energy with demand flexibility that allows the facility to scale back power consumption during peak grid stress. The partnership with DTE Energy positions the project as a potential blueprint for how hyperscalers can expand without straining the broader electricity system. As data center power demand surges nationally, the contrast with less grid-conscious developments underscores a critical choice facing the industry.
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