environmentWednesday, September 9, 2026
Today's environment coverage is split between two big stories: the overlooked environmental costs of the data centre boom and a stark new study showing rapid butterfly declines across the US. Both point to the same uncomfortable truth, the infrastructure we're building and the ecosystems we're losing are on a collision course.
Two stories today dig into the environmental price of the data centre build-out, from e-waste to repurposing coal plants.
The data centre boom could increase global e-waste tenfold and introduce new risks from 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) used in cooling and fire suppression. Australia is bracing for the impact, but this is a global problem.
An Australian power giant wants to turn retiring coal plants into AI data centre sites, tapping into a $155 billion investment pipeline. It's a neat reuse story, but the energy demand question lingers.
A new report warns that delaying Victoria's clean energy transition, with Yallourn coal plant closing in 2028, will raise power bills and risk grid reliability. The window for an orderly shift is narrowing.
The butterfly study is the standout science story today, a data-driven warning that insect populations are collapsing faster than many realised.
A comprehensive US-wide study finds butterfly abundance has dropped in almost every region, with two-thirds of species declining by more than 10%. This is the clearest picture yet of a collapse in progress.
A CBC archival video from 1992 captures the fury of Newfoundland fishermen at the cod moratorium, a reminder that ecosystem collapse has human costs that echo for decades.
How our bodies adapt to extreme temperatures – until it gets too hotwww.newscientist.com
Farming and solar panels can work together – here’s the proofwww.greenpeace.org.uk
Malibu Sinkhole Prompts Local Evacuation Order; 31 Homes Red Taggeddeadline.com
‘The sites are ready’: Power giant wants AI data centres built at its coal plantswww.smh.com.au
Are there plants that could survive as a food source on the moon? Part 2www.newscientist.comElectric car owners could save hundreds of dollars a year under the solar sharer scheme. Here’s howwww.theguardian.com
New research indicates that electric vehicle owners in Australia could save up to $800 annually by utilizing the federal government's "solar sharer" scheme, which offers three hours of free electricity during midday. However, the analysis warns that while EV owners benefit from c
Wiener Hitze. Architecture and Storytelling in Times of Heatfontsinuse.com
The book "Wiener Hitze. Architecture and Storytelling in Times of Heat" examines how climate change is reshaping urban narratives, specifically focusing on Vienna's evolving role in a warming world. The publication highlights the importance of typography in its design, utilizing
Health concerns grow as volcanic ash spreads across Indonesia after eruptionwww.abc.net.au
Flights have resumed after the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, but nearby communities remain concerned about health risks.
Nature at risknuclear-news.net
September 6, 2026 by beyondnuclearinternational, UK Nuclear regulations will destroy havens for wildlife. This needs to be stopped, argues The Wildlife Trusts The following is a position statement put out by The Wildlife Trusts in Britain, after the UK government published its re
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported intensified regulatory vigilance and law enforcement against wildlife violations, with 55 illegal traders apprehended and more than 300 wild fauna confiscated across 71 operations from January to August 2026.
New exhibition highlights Hauraki Gulf protection effortsinsidegovernment.co.nz
Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation are encouraging people to learn about the challenges facing the Hauraki Gulf and actions underway to protect and restore one of New Zealand’s most important marine ecosystems through a new exhibition at Mercury Bay. The
Hong Kong asset owners increase climate solutions investment, fossil fuel policies in 2025 -reportcarbon-pulse.com
Hong Kong asset owners increased their investments into climate solutions and adopted fossil fuel policies in 2025, establishing investment mandates better aligned with decarbonisation, according to a new report.
Akamas forest park visitor centres scaled back to 8 sites in new tenderen.philenews.com
The Department of Forests has launched an architectural tender to redesign visitor infrastructure at the Akamas National Forest Park, scaling back a 2021 plan for 14 information and recreation hubs to just 8, in a bid to reduce the project’s environmental footprint and visual imp
New European satellites aim to enhance knowledge about plants and oceans: 'US too unpredictable'positron.today
So, there's exciting news about new European satellites that are set to boost our understanding of plants and oceans! These satellites will help gather crucial data, especially as the unpredictability of the US complicates global efforts. It's fascinating to think about how this
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