Earth Radio

Data centers could consume 9.3 trillion liters of water by 2030; Trump dismantles key ocean observation network

This week on Earth Radio, a new UN report exposes the unfathomable footprint of data centers as AI booms, and the Trump administration moves to dismantle a decade-old, deep-ocean observation network that scientists have used to track changes in the ocean and monitor marine heatwaves and coastal flooding. Meanwhile, the UN warns that El Niño could arrive as early as this month. Read this week's stories at the link below: * UN Report Exposes Unfathomable Footprint of Data Centers as AI Booms [https://earth.org/9-3-trillion-liters-of-water-un-report-exposes-unfathomable-footprint-of-data-centers-as-ai-booms/]  * Trump Dismantles Ocean Observation Network Used to Monitor Marine Heatwaves, Coastal Flooding [https://earth.org/trump-dismantles-ocean-observation-network-used-to-monitor-marine-heatwaves-coastal-flooding/] * Democratic-Led States Sue Trump Over $1 Billion Deal to End TotalEnergies Offshore Wind Project [https://earth.org/democratic-led-states-sue-trump-over-1-billion-deal-to-end-totalenergies-offshore-wind-project/] * Looming El Niño Will ‘Pour Fuel on the Fire of a Warming World’, Says UN Chief [https://earth.org/looming-el-nino-will-pour-fuel-on-the-fire-of-a-warming-world-says-un-chief/] --- Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our ⁠website⁠. Credits:  * Stories reported by Martina Igini * Editor: Rebekah Hendricks * Producer: Rebekah Hendricks * Music: Rebekah Hendricks

Deadly heatwave scorches Western Europe; El Niño could bring more hurricanes to the Eastern Pacific this summer

This week on Earth Radio, an exceptionally early summer heatwave scorched much of Western Europe this week, breaking temperature records and resulting in over a dozen fatalities. The UK climate adviser has called on the government to install air conditioning in all care homes, hospitals and schools in the next 25 years. These heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, with the UN warning that the Earth is on track to keep warming at or near record levels in the five years. Lastly, the Eastern and Central Pacific are poised to see an above-average hurricane season this summer. Read this week's stories at the link below: * Global Temperatures Likely to Breach Record Levels Over Next 5 Years, WMO Says [https://earth.org/global-temperatures-likely-to-breach-record-levels-over-next-5-years-wmo-says/] * El Niño to Spur Above-Average Hurricane Season in Eastern and Central Pacific, NOAA Says [https://earth.org/el-nino-to-spur-above-average-hurricane-season-in-eastern-and-central-pacific-noaa-says/] * ‘Absolutely Astonishing’: Unusually Early, Deadly Heatwave Scorches Western Europe [https://earth.org/absolutely-astonishing-unusually-early-deadly-heatwave-scorches-western-europe/] * UK Climate Adviser Calls for Rapid Expansion of Air Conditioning As Climate Crisis Intensifies [https://earth.org/uk-climate-adviser-calls-for-rapid-expansion-of-air-conditioning-as-climate-crisis-intensifies/] --- Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our ⁠website⁠. Credits:  * Stories reported by Martina Igini * Editor: Rebekah Hendricks * Producer: Rebekah Hendricks * Music: Rebekah Hendricks

UN members back historic world court climate ruling; US to end safeguards against forever chemicals in drinking water

This week on Earth Radio, the UN General Assembly backs a historic world court ruling on countries' obligations when it comes to climate change, and chances for a "super" El Niño rise. We also look at the US Environmental Protection Agency's rollback of limits on toxic chemicals in drinking water, and an investigation revealing that Trump-appointed EPA officials accepted $1.8 billion from chemical companies and groups before taking office.  Read this week's stories at the link below: * UN General Assembly backs historic world court climate ruling [https://earth.org/landmark-moment-for-climate-justice-un-general-assembly-backs-historic-world-court-climate-ruling/]  * April temperatures hit joint third-highest on record globally as chance of very strong El Niño grows [https://earth.org/april-temperatures-hit-joint-third-highest-on-record-globally-as-chance-of-very-strong-el-nino-grows/]  * Trump’s EPA wants to end limits on carcinogenic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water [https://earth.org/trumps-epa-wants-to-end-limits-on-carcinogenic-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water/]  * Trump’s EPA appointees received at least $1.8 billion from chemical industry, trade groups ahead of rollback of major safeguards [https://earth.org/trumps-epa-wants-to-end-limits-on-carcinogenic-forever-chemicals-in-drinking-water/] --- Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our website [https://earth.org/]. Credits:  * Stories reported by: Martina Igini and Max Bruneau * Editor: Rebekah Hendricks * Producer: Rebekah Hendricks * Music: Rebekah Hendricks

World Cup players could face dangerous heat levels; report calls for overhaul of FEMA

This week on Earth Radio, World Cup players and fans could face dangerous levels of heat, and a report calling for the overhaul of the US disaster response agency only mentions "climate" once. Meanwhile, New Zealand is considering passing legislation that would ban lawsuits against polluting companies. Find this week's stories at the links below: * ⁠ [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/06/alaska-mega-tsunami-climate-change-glacier]World Cup 2026: 1 in 4 matches could take place in dangerous heat conditions, analysis finds [https://earth.org/world-cup-2026-athletes-face-elevated-risk-of-dangerous-heat-conditions-analysis-finds/] * Report calling for overhaul of US disaster response agency only mentions ‘climate’ once [https://earth.org/report-calling-for-overhaul-of-us-disaster-response-agency-only-mentions-climate-once/] * New Zealand mulls law prohibiting civil lawsuits against polluting companies [https://earth.org/new-zealand-government-mulls-law-prohibiting-civil-lawsuits-against-polluting-companies/] * Extreme heat now a ‘regular reality’ in India, Pakistan: study [https://earth.org/extreme-heat-now-a-regular-reality-in-india-pakistan-study/] --- Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our ⁠website⁠ [https://earth.org/]. Credits: * Stories reported by: Martina Igini * Producer: Rebekah Hendricks * Editor: Rebekah Hendricks * Music: Rebekah Hendricks

Climate campaigners attack Shell over profits from Iran war; April sees second-highest sea surface temperatures on record

This week on Earth Radio, scientists say that last year's mega tsunami in Alaska is a stark warning of the risks of coastal rockslides and glacier retreat fueled by the climate crisis. Meanwhile, climate protesters gathered outside Shell’s London HQ to protest against the company’s better-than-expected profits amid the war in Iran, and rising water levels are beginning to revive Iraq's wetlands after years of drought left them cracked and empty. Find this week's stories at the links below: * Alaska’s 2025 mega tsunami highlights risk to cruise lines as glaciers retreat [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/06/alaska-mega-tsunami-climate-change-glacier] (The Guardian) * Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran war [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/07/climate-campaigners-attack-shell-over-windfall-profits-from-iran-war] (The Guardian) * Iraq's historic marshes revive as water returns after years of drought [https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/iraqs-historic-marshes-revive-water-returns-after-years-drought-2026-05-07/] (Reuters) * Second-highest sea surface temperatures recorded during third–warmest April globally [https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-second-highest-sea-surface-temperatures-recorded-during-third-warmest-april-globally] (Copernicus) --- Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization founded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our website [https://earth.org/]. Credits: * Producer: Rebekah Hendricks * Editor: Rebekah Hendricks * Music: Rebekah Hendricks