Utah officials have approved construction of a datacenter twice the size of Manhattan, drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups. The facility would require more power than the entire state currently uses and consume vast amounts of water in a drought-stricken region. Critics called the decision irresponsible, pointing to the massive energy and water demands at a time when the western United States faces increasing water scarcity.
The approval highlights a growing tension between the tech industry's expanding infrastructure needs and climate goals. Datacenters are among the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand globally, driven by artificial intelligence workloads that require enormous computing power.
New research shows that climate action is stalling worldwide despite widespread popular support. Scientists studying the gap between public opinion and policy action say that political and economic barriers continue to block meaningful progress on emissions reductions.
Studies are also warning that current research may be significantly underestimating sea level rise. Oceans are expanding faster than many models predict, threatening coastal communities from Bangladesh to New Orleans. A recent study calling for New Orleans residents to be relocated due to rising sea levels sparked pushback from local leaders who argue the city deserves investment rather than abandonment.
In Australia, Western Australia's government is putting national climate targets at risk, according to new revelations. Scientists are also working to improve the resilience of apple crops against the climate situation, focusing on varieties that can withstand wild temperature swings and drought.