home.social

#protectnature — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #protectnature, aggregated by home.social.

  1. "Every European railway network faces the same challenge: cutting wildlife collisions without permanently locking animals out of their natural corridors. Blue Sentinel was built to solve this."

    That's great. It's important to protect and respect wildlife.

    Also, in general, I'm super glad that rail travel is making a comeback. It's better than ever, too.

    Unlike every single commercial airplane that pollutes the environment the moment it takes off, eco-friendly trains that run on solar panels or batteries or non-polluting fuels or simply electricity from sustainable sources
    are constantly introduced on railways all over the world.

    Most importantly, trains they don't rob travellers of the simple pleasure of looking out the window and taking in the sights. Travelling should be a pleasant and memorable experience, and trains have consistently delivered just that for the past hundred years. 🚉 🚈 🛤 🚞 🚆

    #Railroad #TrainTravel #PublicTransportation #BlueSentinel #Wildlife #ProtectNature #SaveThePlanet #BeTheChange

    railway-international.com/news

  2. "Scientific evidence continues to show that human activities -- primarily the human burning of fossil fuels -- have warmed Earth's surface and its ocean basins, which in turn have continued to impact Earth’s climate." (NASA)

    #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #StopFossils #CleanEnergy #ProtectNature #BeTheChange #ResetSociety #FireSeason #SaveThePlanet #NASA

  3. The #Indigenous Roots of #RegenerativeAgriculture

    “All flourishing is mutual.”
    – Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

    August 9, 2023

    "While a new wave of enthusiasm has crested in recent years, regenerative agriculture is an ancient concept that originated with #IndigenousPeoples around the world more than a thousand years ago. In many Indigenous world views, humans and nature are not separate forces, but parts of a whole that need each other to thrive. Regenerative agriculture supports this by promoting farming methods that enrich the land—so it can continue to provide for present and future generations.

    "Embracing #TraditionalKnowledge

    "Due to the long and horrific history of #StolenLand and #colonization, the Global North often refers to #IndigenousPeoples’ culture and knowledge in the past tense. Yet today, Indigenous peoples are indisputably the best guardians of our world’s most precious #ecosystems. When you take into account that the few remaining Indigenous lands are home to 80 percent of the world’s #Biodiversity, while modern #IndustrialAgriculture is responsible for 80 percent of global #deforestation, it’s clear that Western society still desperately needs to learn what Indigenous people have known for millennia: that human beings must live in a reciprocal relationship with the Earth.

    "Around the world, Indigenous peoples have long practiced the key elements of regenerative agriculture. Here are just a few examples:

    The art of #agroforestry

    Some Indigenous communities, like the #Lenca people in #Honduras, know agroforestry simply as 'traditional technique.' Agroforestry—or the concept of growing crops in a way that mimics the forest and offers shade, protection, and nutrients—is such common practice there is no special name for it.

    "Our lead for sustainable forest management, Emmanuelle Bérenger, explains the importance of Indigenous growing methods: 'By using #sustainable practices taught from one generation to another, [Indigenous peoples] actively safeguard forests, preserving biodiversity and keeping a delicate balance essential for both the environment and their own sustenance.' "

    Learn more:
    rainforest-alliance.org/insigh

    #SolarPunkSunday #Intercropping #FoodForests #ProtectNature #ProtectBiodiversity

  4. 《WMFS chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said 19 houses had been fully destroyed by the fire, while 18 more had been damaged.
    He described the conditions as "some of the most challenging" he has seen in 28 years of service, and residents have been warned they could be away from their homes for days.》

    #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #UK #WestMidlands #StopFossils #CleanEnergy #ProtectNature #BeTheChange #ResetSociety

    bbc.com/news/articles/cp8xr2n9

  5. Twenty-five critical areas for #biodiversity nationally recognized in #NovaScotia

    "#KBA [ #KeyBiodiversityArea] designation does not create legal protection. However, it does provide the evidence base to drive advocacy for protection where it’s needed most, as well as data to guide land-use planning and regional #stewardship."

    Peter Soroye, 6/29/2026

    Notable quotes:
    “In 2025, 10 #PipingPlover pairs produced 24 fledglings within the #MiddleOhio to #PortJoli KBA - an incredible success, which demonstrates the area’s importance to this species at risk. We're thrilled to see so many valuable habitats recognized; from across the #WabanakiAcadian forests to the ocean.” – Sue Abbott, Associate Director – Atlantic Programs, Birds Canada

    "Canada's #biosphere regions are places where science, communities, and #FirstNations combine their knowledge to care for the living world. The identification of 79 Key Biodiversity Areas across our Canadian biosphere regions, including the 25 announced today in Nova Scotia, illustrates what this network achieves in practice: contributing to Canada's biodiversity commitments and to the targets of the Force of Nature Strategy. Each designation is a collective victory that confirms the value of managing our territories by mobilizing all available knowledge, at every scale.” - Kate Potter, Executive Director, Canadian Biosphere Regions Association."

    Learn more:
    wcscanada.org/newsroom/news/tw

    #SolarPunkSunday #CriticalHabitats #ProtectNature #Miqmak #Canada #Stewardship #EndangeredSpecial #TraditionalEcologicalKnowledge

  6. 《Indigenous Peoples protect most of the planet’s biodiversity.

    Yet they are often excluded from decisions that affect their lands, and face increasing threats from environmental degradation.

    The traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples is essential to protecting ecosystems and tackling the climate crisis.

    They must be fully recognized and integrated into global efforts to address the world’s most urgent challenges.

    9 August is Indigenous Day.》

    #IndigenousDay #SaveThePlanet #BeTheChange #ProtectNature #IndigenousRights #UN

  7. You see a problem, you fix it.
    You see an opportunity to improve something, you commit to it.

    That's how human societies and communities should work across the planet. End of story.

    #ProtectNature #SaveThePlanet #BeTheChange #ResetSociety #Community

  8. #OntarioGreenbelt is a Refuge for Species at Risk

    #Toronto, May 22, 2026 – "On World #Biodiversity Day, a new report published by #OntarioNature demonstrates the critical role that the Greenbelt plays as a safe haven for some of Ontario’s most vulnerable species.

    "The report – Species at Risk in the Greenbelt: Successes, Challenges and Opportunities – shows that since 2004, the number of species at risk living in the Greenbelt has increased by 68%, rising from 72 to 121 species. That growth far outpaces provincial trends, confirming the Greenbelt’s critical importance for biodiversity in southern Ontario.

    "The 121 at-risk species that inhabit the Greenbelt represent 42% of the total species at risk in Ontario – including rare birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. Some, like the hooded warbler, are showing signs of recovery thanks to protected habitats and coordinated conservation efforts. Others, like redside dace and Jefferson salamander, are struggling as habitat fragmentation and pollution harm breeding and feeding grounds. The habitats the Greenbelt provides for the hooded warbler, redside dace, Jefferson salamander and many other species not only sustain this diversity of life but play an essential role in human health by ensuring the flow of clean water, filtering the air and providing a natural buffer against flooding.

    " 'The Greenbelt shows us what’s possible when nature is given space to breathe,' said Ontario Nature’s Acting Conservation Science and #Stewardship Director, Jenna Quinn. 'But we can’t expect it to do all the work on its own. Species at risk need action to ensure their recovery.'

    "According to Ontario Nature’s Conservation Policy and Campaigns Director, Tony Morris: 'The #Greenbelt isn’t just a buffer against #UrbanSprawl, it’s a refuge for a diversity of life. Greenbelt #forests, #wetlands and #rivers are vital strongholds for many species that have lost habitats elsewhere in southern Ontario.'

    "The Greenbelt is a cherished public policy that celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. On this #WorldBiodiversityDay, we reflect on the importance of the variety of life on Earth and encourage actions to protect it. The Greenbelt’s role in protecting habitats and vulnerable species is more important than ever. Collectively, we must do everything we can to protect, strengthen and expand the Greenbelt to keep Ontario self-reliant, secure and ready to meet future challenges."

    Learn more:
    ontarionature.org/news-release

    #SolarPunkSunday #WildlifeCorridors
    #PreserveTheForest #ReconnectNature #Canada #Biodiversity #ProtectNature #Interconnectedness #NatureCorridors #EndangeredSpecies #HabitRestoration

  9. The #OntarioGreenbelt is a 'safe haven' for 70% more species at risk than 2 decades ago, a new report says

    #OntarioNature says protected area now acts as refuge for 121 vulnerable species

    by Shawn Jeffords, May 23, 2026

    Excerpt: "The number of species at risk using the Greenbelt as a 'safe haven' has jumped by nearly 70 per cent over the past two decades, a new report says as opposition critics press the government to start a long-delayed review and enhance the protected zone.

    "The new study from the environmental charity Ontario Nature looks at available government data on species at risk in 2004, a year before the protected area was created by the province. The study traces the progress of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants that were vulnerable at that time to present day, and finds that the number of species at risk in the Greenbelt has jumped from 72 to 121.

    " 'It reflects … the growing importance of the Greenbelt for vital habitats, particularly in southern #Ontario,' said Tony Morris, conservation policy and campaigns director at Ontario Nature.

    "The Greenbelt is an over 800,000-hectare ecologically sensitive zone around the #GreaterGoldenHorseshoe, which was defined in 2005. It provides #EnvironmentalProtection and specifies where development should not occur."

    Read more:
    cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/spe

    #SolarPunkSunday #WildlifeCorridors
    #PreserveTheForest #ReconnectNature #Canada #Biodiversity #ProtectNature #Interconnectedness #NatureCorridors

  10. Please stop cutting down trees. Every tree provides oxygen, cleans the air, protects wildlife, and helps fight climate change. When we destroy forests, we also destroy our future. Let's protect the trees we have and plant more for generations to come. Together, we can make a difference.
    #SaveTrees #ProtectNature #environment #climatechange #climatecrisis #climatecrisis #sustainability #ecology #wildlife #SundayVibes #ecotourism #forestry #deforestation #afforestation #agroforestry #nature

  11. Please stop cutting down trees. Every tree provides oxygen, cleans the air, protects wildlife, and helps fight climate change. When we destroy forests, we also destroy our future. Let's protect the trees we have and plant more for generations to come. Together, we can make a difference.
    #SaveTrees #ProtectNature #environment #climatechange #climatecrisis #climatecrisis #sustainability #ecology #wildlife #SundayVibes #ecotourism #forestry #deforestation #afforestation #agroforestry #nature

  12. Scientists find building blocks of #birdsong's 'spectacular #diversity'

    Victoria Gill, July 23, 2026

    Excerpt: "This link between the environment and its #NaturalSoundscape, Bacquelé explained, is being transformed by #HumanActivity.

    " 'I think this research has opened up a new way to see songs as something [intrinsically] linked with the environment,' he told BBC News.

    " 'So, we could try to use these motifs to help us understand how birds could adapt to the new #BackgroundNoise [that we produce].'

    "#NaturalSound, Bacquelé added, is an an important part of our own connection to #nature and is worth conserving.

    " 'If you think of a #forest, near your town or near your house, you think about the songs of the birds in the morning when you go outside.

    " 'And if a bird in a #forest has a specific song, if you destroy the forest, then that song may not be adapted any more to the new environment.' "

    Read more:
    bbc.com/news/articles/cwy4eg5d

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/eGDPy

    #SolarPunkSunday #PreserveNature #Birdsongs #NoisePollution #BioDiversity #ProtectNature #ProtectTheForest

  13. The fact that it's compatible with existing diesel engines makes HVO a really good fuel alternative that's set to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions.

    It's already been tested on a diesel train without any problems. 🚉

    #HVO #HydrotreatedVegetableOil #RenewableFuels #EU #Bio #Diesel #AlternativeEnergy #BanFossils #CO2Emissions #AirQuality #ProtectNature #SaveThePlanet

    repsol.com/en/energy-move-forw

  14. Plan to keep #Navajo #CoalMine open for 110 years runs into opposition

    Arlyssa D. Becenti, Feb. 12, 2026

    Excerpts: #BurnhamNM — "Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has been open about his support for keeping the #FourCornersGeneratingStation operating until 2038, along with continued #CoalMining for the next 110 years.

    "But community members and #EnvironmentalJustice advocates say the plan ignores the ongoing transition away from #FossilFuels and could endanger the health of people who live nearby. They voiced opposition at a public hearing at the Burnham Chapter Jan. 29.

    "The Four Corners station, a coal-fired power plant near #FruitlandMN, is operated by Arizona Public Service Company and is scheduled to close as early 2031, and no later than 2038. In 2013, the Navajo Nation formed Navajo Transitional Energy Company to acquire the Navajo Mine from #BHP #BillitonNM Coal.

    "Since then, #NTEC has also acquired coal mines in #Wyoming and #Montana, and in July 2018, NTEC acquired a 7% ownership stake in Units 4 and 5 of the Four Corners plant. Now NTEC plans to expand Navajo Mine and operate it for the next 110 years, until 2136, with support from Nygren and council delegates.

    [...]

    "#Trump orders fuel energy initiatives on #NavajoNation

    "The attempt to expand coal mining on the Navajo Nation for 110 years comes after President Donald Trump signed his executive order Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241 in April 2025.

    "The order said that to keep the U.S. economy strong, protect national security, and lower living costs, the country needs to produce more energy at home, including coal. Another order, 'Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production,' was signed in March, aiming to accelerate domestic production of critical minerals by streamlining permitting, financing, and federal land use processes.

    "Since Trump signed the orders, the Navajo Nation has accelerated efforts to establish a dedicated energy office. While the idea had been discussed under previous administrations, it has only recently gained momentum. The office would function as a centralized body to coordinate energy policy, regulatory oversight and long-term energy development.

    "Other actions by Navajo Nation leadership aimed at engaging with this renewed federal focus include holding public hearings on the potential revitalization of coal and continuing work related to #uranium production and the cleanup of legacy #contamination."

    Full article:
    azcentral.com/story/news/local

    Archived version:
    archive.ph/VjI3h

    #ProtectTheSacred #NoMining
    #NoMiningWithoutConsent #PeabodyCoal #DirtyCoal #DontNukeTheNavajo #BuuNygren #FourCornersStation #UraniumTransport #NativeAmericans #USPol #CorporateColonialism #CulturalErasure #EnvironmentalRacism #BigOilandGas #ProtectNature #ProtectOurEnvironment

  15. #Navajos Protest Planned 110-Year Lease for #CoalMine Expansion

    Coal Mines, #OilAndGas #Methane and #Uranium Transport: Deadly Mix on
    the #NavajoNation

    By Dine' CARE, Censored News, July 23, 2026

    Dine' CARE (Citizens Against Ruining our Environment)

    #WindowRock, #NavajoNation -- "On Monday, #DinéCARE. hosted a press conference with #BurnhamNM residents and other coal impacted community members at the Navajo Nation Council
    Chambers.

    "They called for the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (#NTEC) to withdraw its No Name Permit application, which seeks a 110-year, 11,526-acre coal mine expansion.

    "The proposal threatens health, the environment, and Navajo cultural heritage.

    "The Burnham Chapter formally opposed the permit in February 2026, citing incomplete materials, inadequate impact review, and lack of transparency.

    "Advocates demand a thorough Environmental Impact Statement (#EIS), coal supply plan disclosure beyond 2031, and accountability from leaders. A decision is expected next month."

    Read more:
    bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/07

    #ProtectTheSacred #NoMining #NoMiningWithoutConsent #PeabodyCoal #DirtyCoal #DontNukeTheNavajo #BuuNygren #FourCornersStation #UraniumTransport #NativeAmericans #USPo #CorporateColonialism #CulturalErasure #EnvironmentalRacism #BigOilandGas #ProtectNature #ProtectOurEnvironment

  16. #PlasticPollution in #ShootingRanges and warfare areas - an overlooked #environmental issue

    Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo, et al. 15 July 2026

    Abstract
    "Shooting ranges and military training fields, including warfare-impacted areas, have been widely recognized as environmentally impacted zones by inorganic and organic #contamination, such as #HeavyMetals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or explosive-related compounds. However, the possible contamination by #plastics and #microplastics in soil has been widely overlooked despite potential plastic sources, such as #ShotgunCartridges, #PlasticWads or #landmines. Due to how these activities occur, plastics have remained in the field for decades or centuries, favoring their conversion from macro to microplastics, polluting the soil and water resources. Moreover, shooting and recreational activities such as #airsoft or #paintball practices could also be a substantial source of plastics to ecosystems; once shot, pellets can have conventional or biodegradable plastics in their composition, and there left in the environment, favouring impacts on soil properties. Although some initiatives have emerged to avoid the use of single-use plastics in shotgun ammunition, alternative materials (biodegradable plastics) can also be a potential risk, favouring the heavy metal bioavailability of shot pellets. These emerging pollutants should also be considered in these areas to understand if they could be a potential source of micro- and nanoplastics to the environment and, therefore, an environmental concern that requires changes at industrial and regulatory levels."

    Read more:
    sciencedirect.com/science/arti

    #EndangeredSpecies #EndangeredBirds #AmmunitionPollution #ProtectNature

  17. Boo hiss...!

    Will a #LuxuryDevelopment harm internet famous eagles? Advocates say yes. Scientists say it's complicated.

    KVCR | By Madison Aument
    Published Jul 17, 2026

    "A conservation group is trying to stop a luxury housing and marina project that they say could disturb celebrity eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow. Biologists are more concerned about how it could affect future bald eagle residents."

    Listen:
    kvcr.org/news/california-news/

    #JackieAndShadow #PublicRadio #EndangeredSpecies #EndangeredBirds #NewsFromTheNest
    #ProtectNature#EatTheRich

  18. #Jackie the rescued eagle from #BigBear is alert and underweight

    by Rene Ray De La Cruz
    July 21, 2026

    "Jackie, the rescued bald eagle and mate of Shadow from Big Bear, is underweight, alert, perching and eating with assistance, according to the Ojai Raptor Center.

    "The center delivered that message to Friends of Big Bear Valley, who reported on Monday that the Ventura County-based rehab center had not yet received Jackie’s medical test results, but was expected to within the next couple of days.

    "On Tuesday, FOBBV shared an update from the Ojai Raptor Center, saying personnel there are awaiting test results for signs of #lead, #zinc, or rodenticide levels.

    "#Rodenticides are pesticides that kill a variety of rodents, according to the National Pesticide Information Center.

    "The most common route of exposure to lead for birds, especially in eagles, is through ingestion of spent lead #ammunition fragments and #FishingTackle, according to the #Cornell #Wildlife Health Lab.

    "High zinc levels in birds are often caused by the ingestion of lead, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.

    " 'Jackie is anemic and has inflammation affecting her kidneys,' FOBBV said. “They are unsure of the underlying issue causing these symptoms. The center is working with several specialist veterinarians to determine the best supportive care for the moment.'

    "FOBBV was also told that Jackie has more energy and 'is mad and fighting. That’s our Jackie, a strong and mighty eagle!' "

    Read more:
    usatoday.com/story/news/local/

    #EndangeredSpecies #EndangeredBirds #EndangeredSpeciesAct #JackieAndShadow #NewsFromTheNest #Ammunition #AmmunitionPollution #ProtectNature

  19. It’s no longer illegal to destroy the one thing #EndangeredSpecies need most to survive

    The Trump administration’s twisted definition of one word is putting hundreds of rare animals at risk.

    by Benji Jones
    Jul 20, 2026

    Excerpt: "It’s the meaning of one of those words — harm — that matters most here. Up until the recent rule, the government’s definition for harm included destroying an animal’s habitat if it impairs essential behaviors, such as breeding. That might include, say, building a hotel on top of a beach that endangered sea turtles use for nesting. Such a definition was important because destroying the habitat of an already imperiled species could push it over the edge, #wildlife advocates say.

    "What’s more is that, according to the language of the law itself, the purpose of the #ESA includes conserving '#ecosystems upon which endangered species and #ThreatenedSpecies depend.'

    "The Trump administration, however, just threw out that definition of harm and the unambiguous protection it has long afforded habitat. And while it didn’t offer a new definition, the administration said that it agrees with a much narrower interpretation of the term — articulated three decades ago in a dissent by the late conservative Justice #AntoninScalia — that only includes actions that directly and intentionally harm individual animals, such as capturing a sea turtle to eat or keep as a pet.

    " 'For years, federal agencies abused the ESA to obstruct lawful land use and burden American families and businesses,' #DougBurgum, Secretary of the Interior Department, which oversees endangered species protections, said in a statement. 'That approach turned routine activity into a regulatory trap, drove up costs that impacted people’s lives, and expanded federal authority beyond what Congress intended. This action restores common sense, respects private property, provides much-needed certainty for landowners and follows the statute Congress actually passed.' (The Interior Department declined to provide a comment on our reporting, pointing us instead to its press release and the notice in the Federal Register.)

    "Under the new rule, set to take effect in September, 'harm' no longer explicitly includes actions that may accidentally or indirectly doom a wildlife population to extinction. A company building luxury villas on a private beach that endangered sea turtles need for survival would not unambiguously be considered take — and thus be illegal — unless the company knew it’d crush turtle eggs or the turtles themselves in the process. Neither would logging #OldGrowthForests that #EndangeredBirds inhabit, building wind turbines that are known to kill endangered bats, or constructing a road that would likely get endangered snakes run over.

    "The administration’s interpretation of take 'really completely blows up the #EndangeredSpeciesAct,' said J.B. Ruhl, a lawyer at Vanderbilt University and a leading expert on the ESA."

    Read more:
    vox.com/climate/496053/trump-e

    #ProtectTheSacred #ProtectNature #TrumpSucks #USPol #Extinction

  20. Your daily reminder that data centres are using huge amounts of potable water and electricity to cool off and power sloppy AI

    All they give back is lots and lots of heat, adding to the already alarmingly high temperatures.

    #AI #BanAI #AISlop #EatTheRich #Capitalism #CorporateGreed #BigTech #BigCorpo #AlternativeEnergy #ProtectNature #SaveThePlanet #BeTheChange #ResetSociety

  21. Centuries of war, pollution, unhinged capitalism, and a complete disregard for the natural environment, yet suddenly, everyone's shocked about the heatwave that's gripped the UK and Europe.

    OK 👍

    #Heatwave #GlobalWarming #ClimateChange #SaveThePlanet #StopFossils #CleanEnergy #ProtectNature #Capitalism #CorporateGreed #Hypocrisy #DirtyPoliticians #War #BigOil #BigCorpo #UK #EU

  22. Press Release: Rising #Emissions, Depleting #Water and Vanishing #Land—UN Scientists: #AI Is Threatening #NaturalResources for Billions

    By 2030, AI's water use will match the needs of 1.3 billion people while its power use triples that of 650 million, UN University investigation warns

    Date Published
    3 Jun 2026

    Excerpt: "Inference, efficiency, and the rebound effect

    "Public discussion has largely focused on the energy required to train massive models. Training GPT-3 was estimated to require 1.3 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, while estimates suggest GPT-4 consumed between 50 and 70 GWh. However, the report reveals this framing is outdated. Once a model is deployed, inference—the continuous running of models to answer everyday user prompts—becomes the dominant cost, accounting for 80 to 90 per cent of total #AI energy use. ChatGPT alone is estimated to process around 2.5 billion prompts per day, translating to roughly 383 GWh of electricity per year for a single product. Offsetting associated carbon emissions would require 2.6 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years, enough trees to cover a land area the size of Manhattan. The water footprint is equivalent to the minimum annual domestic water needs of roughly 500,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the land footprint is equal to over 800 football fields."

    Read more:
    unu.edu/inweh/news/environment

    #AIBoom #Electricity #Hyperscale #BigTech #BigData #CarbonFootprint #EnvironmentalRacism #EnvironmentalDegradation #NoisePollution #LightPollution #WaterIsLife #AIAgents #BotTraffic #GreenSpaces #Farmland #Prairies #Woodland #TechGiants #ProtectNature #NoDatacenters #EnergyConsumption #USPol #WorldPol #Datacentres
    #DatacenterMoratoriums #ArtificialIntelligence

  23. The #EnvironmentalCost of #ArtificialIntelligence: #Carbon, #Water, and #LandFootprints

    #AI’s rapid growth drives huge energy, water, and land use, raising environmental and equity challenges across its global infrastructure.

    Date Published 3 Jun 2026

    UNU-INWEH Report: Aczel, M., Chamanara, S., Matin, M., Farsi, A., Marwala, T., Madani, K. (2026).

    "This report, Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints, by the #UnitedNationsUniversity Institute for Water, Environment and Health ( #UNU - #INWEH ) on its 30th anniversary, examines one of the most underexplored consequences of AI’s rapid expansion: the environmental footprints of the energy required to power it. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in economies, public services, research, communication, and everyday life, it depends on a growing physical infrastructure of #datacenters, advanced #chips, #CoolingSystems, #ElectricityGrids, #WaterResources, land, and #CriticalMineral supply chains. The report shows that AI is not only a digital technology, but also a material system with measurable #EnvironmentalCosts.

    "The report moves beyond a carbon-only lens by quantifying the carbon, water, and land footprints associated with the electricity used to train, deploy, and operate AI systems at scale. Its central finding is that AI’s environmental costs depend not only on how much electricity is used, but also on where that electricity is generated and which energy sources power it. Every kilowatt-hour used by AI carries carbon, water, and land implications, and these footprints do not always move in the same direction: low-carbon electricity is not automatically low-water or low-land. The report also shows that AI’s footprint is shaped by both major infrastructure trends, including the rapid growth of data centers, and everyday use patterns, including model choice, output length, modality, and the growing use of text, image, and video generation.

    "Importantly, the report frames AI’s environmental footprint as a governance and justice challenge, not only a technical problem. The benefits of AI often flow across borders and sectors, while the environmental burdens of data center siting, electricity demand, water withdrawals, #LandUse, MineralExtraction, and #EWaste can be concentrated in specific communities and regions. To address these risks, the report calls for a responsible AI ecosystem grounded in transparency, efficiency by design, equity and #EnvironmentalJustice, lifecycle responsibility, global cooperation, and sustainable use. By making AI’s carbon, water, and land footprints visible and comparable, the report provides a practical basis for integrating AI into energy, climate, water, and land-use planning, ensuring that innovation advances without shifting environmental costs onto vulnerable communities."

    Download PDF:
    unu.edu/inweh/collection/envir

    #AIBoom #Electricity #Hyperscale #BigTech #BigData #CarbonFootprint #EnvironmentalRacism #EnvironmentalDegradation #NoisePollution #LightPollution #WaterIsLife #AIAgents #BotTraffic #GreenSpaces #Farmland #Prairies #Woodland #TechGiants #ProtectNature #NoDatacenters #EnergyConsumption #USPol #WorldPol #Datacentres
    #DatacenterMoratoriums

  24. No surprise. #ChelliePingree voted against HR556, #JaredGolden voted for it.

    Protect #Wildlife from Toxic #LeadAmmunition [and #FishingTackle]

    "#HR556, a bill to prevent federal agencies from prohibiting or regulating the use of toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on certain public lands and waters, passed the House of Representatives on March 18. However, we are not done fighting this bill! Lead ammunition is a well-documented threat, leading to illness and death for millions of birds and other wild animals each year. Since there is no safe level for lead exposure, hunters, anglers, and their families can also be harmed. Please contact your US representative about their vote on H.R. 556 and urge your senators to oppose this bill."

    awionline.org/action-center#/5

    Bill Status and details:

    H.R.556 — 119th Congress (2025-2026)

    Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025

    "This bill bars the Fish and Wildlife Service (#FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (#BLM), and the Forest Service from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water. The bill makes exceptions for specified existing regulations and where the FWS, the BLM, or the Forest Service determines that a decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from such unit, and the state approves the regulations."

    House Roll Call Vote 93 119th Congress - 2nd Session (2026)

    Passed - Yea: 215 | Nay: 202
    (R 208-1 Pres=0 NV=9, D 7-201 Pres=0 NV=6, I 0-0 Pres=0 NV=0)

    Full voting roster:
    congress.gov/votes/house/119-2

    #USPol #MainePol #ProtectWildlife #ProtectNature #LeadPoisoning #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife #NatureIsLife

  25. This beautiful illustration titled “Uganda Nature Is Our Pride” was drawn by Jordan, a young student from Namayumba Town Council. His artwork shows how much children love and value nature. We hope to work with his school soon, and we are inspired by his passion and readiness to join our mission.
    #Uganda #NatureIsOurPride #YouthForNature #EcoFutu #EYN #ProtectNature

  26. Good morning everyone!
    Wishing you all a #HappyWeekend filled with peace and purpose. Let’s not forget our precious planet #ProtectNature, care for it, and#TeachTheYouth to love and preserve it. 🌿💚 Together, we build a #GreenFuture through #EnvironmentalEducation and strong #ClimateAction. #YouthForNature #Sustainability #EcoYouth#ugandaEcoYouthdNetwork.

  27. #FlashbackFriday
    2020.

    I was invited to go on a #flotilla #protest led by #IndigenousChiefs & leaders from the North Island in late 2019 - we went in March of 2020. To stop 2 open net fish farms, in the #DiscoveryIslands archipelago, from restocking their pens. These fish farms are remote & they don't want public to access them. No restocking was able to happen on day we went on flotilla protest & patrol.

    I've been a part of the battle here to get #FishFarmsOut for over a decade. There's finally some progress but we need to still keep up the pressure on federal & provincial governments.
    #SaveWildSalmon because they're a #KeystoneSpecies & if we lose them, it sets off chain reactions in both #ocean & #OldGrowthForest #ecosystems. Wild salmon are extremely important to the Indigenous peoples of BC & the fight to protect them goes back decades.

    Always put #WildFirst ✊️

    #ProtectTheWild #WildSalmonAlliance #NoLicenseRenewal #FloatingViruses #Frankenfish #Environmentalist #Ecological #Activism #DirectAction #OneEarth #OceanGuardians #SalmonGuardians #SalmonPeople #StandUpForSalmon #BoycottFarmedSalmon #SayNoToFarmedSalmon #CDNpoli #BCpoli #BritishColumbia #Cascadia #PacificNorthwest #BCcoast #CoastalBC #Westcoast #Oceans #DemandMPAs #PNW #Activist #ProtectNature

  28. #MonochromeMonday

    I'm the happiest & feel most at home, when in midst of nature. I talk to more trees, plants, fungi & wildlife than I talk to humans. It's a personal choice. I love nature very much. I do my best to try to protect what I love the most in the world. I believe we should always do our personal best to protect what we love most in this shared world.

    We can't really fail, when we try our best to protect what we love ❤️💚❤️💚

    #Environmentalist #AsianMastodon #LiveByYourValues #ProtectNature #NatureGuardians #Ecological #WildFirst #ProtectTheWild #VancouverIsland #monochrome #Forest #hiking #DisabledHiker #monochrome #Activist #FightForWhatYouLove #SelfTimer #Portrait

  29. #Vancouver folks! Please let your family & friends know about Salmon Day in October! Volunteers are still needed too!

    #WatershedWatch is co-hosting the second annual #SalmonDay on Saturday, October 5 along with #ResilientWaters, #Kwikwetlem #FirstNation, and #UBC's Zachary Sherker from the #PacificSalmonLab. The event will be held next to the community garden at ƛ̓éxətəm #ColonyFarm Regional Park.

    We need #volunteers to help with setup and tear down, manning info booths, supporting exhibitors, and supporting attendees. No prior experience is necessary, we will get you up to speed at the event!

    The event runs from 11 am - 3 pm. Snacks and drinks will be provided for volunteers.

    #Carpooling from Coquitlam Central Station can be arranged. Pickup from the skytrain will be at 9 am. Email [email protected] to coordinate.

    Questions? Email [email protected]

    Note: Volunteer RSVP window closes on Thursday, October 3 but if there is still space and you want to attend, please send Meghan an email!

    #YVR #Environmental #ecological #nature #WildSalmonAlliance #WildFirst #BCWatersheds #SaveWildSalmon #ProtectHabitats #ProtectNature #SaveEcosystems #Conservation #WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #NatureGuardians #NatureStewardship #ProtectRivers #ProtectWatersheds #KeystoneSpecies #ClimateChange #BritishColumbia #WildSalmon #BCSalmon #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #VancouverBC #VolunteerVancouver #VolunteersWanted

  30. #Vancouver folks! Please let your family & friends know about Salmon Day in October! Volunteers are still needed too!

    #WatershedWatch is co-hosting the second annual #SalmonDay on Saturday, October 5 along with #ResilientWaters, #Kwikwetlem #FirstNation, and #UBC's Zachary Sherker from the #PacificSalmonLab. The event will be held next to the community garden at ƛ̓éxətəm #ColonyFarm Regional Park.

    We need #volunteers to help with setup and tear down, manning info booths, supporting exhibitors, and supporting attendees. No prior experience is necessary, we will get you up to speed at the event!

    The event runs from 11 am - 3 pm. Snacks and drinks will be provided for volunteers.

    #Carpooling from Coquitlam Central Station can be arranged. Pickup from the skytrain will be at 9 am. Email [email protected] to coordinate.

    Questions? Email [email protected]

    Note: Volunteer RSVP window closes on Thursday, October 3 but if there is still space and you want to attend, please send Meghan an email!

    #YVR #Environmental #ecological #nature #WildSalmonAlliance #WildFirst #BCWatersheds #SaveWildSalmon #ProtectHabitats #ProtectNature #SaveEcosystems #Conservation #WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #NatureGuardians #NatureStewardship #ProtectRivers #ProtectWatersheds #KeystoneSpecies #ClimateChange #BritishColumbia #WildSalmon #BCSalmon #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #VancouverBC #VolunteerVancouver #VolunteersWanted

  31. #Vancouver folks! Please let your family & friends know about Salmon Day in October! Volunteers are still needed too!

    #WatershedWatch is co-hosting the second annual #SalmonDay on Saturday, October 5 along with #ResilientWaters, #Kwikwetlem #FirstNation, and #UBC's Zachary Sherker from the #PacificSalmonLab. The event will be held next to the community garden at ƛ̓éxətəm #ColonyFarm Regional Park.

    We need #volunteers to help with setup and tear down, manning info booths, supporting exhibitors, and supporting attendees. No prior experience is necessary, we will get you up to speed at the event!

    The event runs from 11 am - 3 pm. Snacks and drinks will be provided for volunteers.

    #Carpooling from Coquitlam Central Station can be arranged. Pickup from the skytrain will be at 9 am. Email [email protected] to coordinate.

    Questions? Email [email protected]

    Note: Volunteer RSVP window closes on Thursday, October 3 but if there is still space and you want to attend, please send Meghan an email!

    #YVR #Environmental #ecological #nature #WildSalmonAlliance #WildFirst #BCWatersheds #SaveWildSalmon #ProtectHabitats #ProtectNature #SaveEcosystems #Conservation #WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #NatureGuardians #NatureStewardship #ProtectRivers #ProtectWatersheds #KeystoneSpecies #ClimateChange #BritishColumbia #WildSalmon #BCSalmon #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #VancouverBC #VolunteerVancouver #VolunteersWanted

  32. #Vancouver folks! Please let your family & friends know about Salmon Day in October! Volunteers are still needed too!

    #WatershedWatch is co-hosting the second annual #SalmonDay on Saturday, October 5 along with #ResilientWaters, #Kwikwetlem #FirstNation, and #UBC's Zachary Sherker from the #PacificSalmonLab. The event will be held next to the community garden at ƛ̓éxətəm #ColonyFarm Regional Park.

    We need #volunteers to help with setup and tear down, manning info booths, supporting exhibitors, and supporting attendees. No prior experience is necessary, we will get you up to speed at the event!

    The event runs from 11 am - 3 pm. Snacks and drinks will be provided for volunteers.

    #Carpooling from Coquitlam Central Station can be arranged. Pickup from the skytrain will be at 9 am. Email [email protected] to coordinate.

    Questions? Email [email protected]

    Note: Volunteer RSVP window closes on Thursday, October 3 but if there is still space and you want to attend, please send Meghan an email!

    #YVR #Environmental #ecological #nature #WildSalmonAlliance #WildFirst #BCWatersheds #SaveWildSalmon #ProtectHabitats #ProtectNature #SaveEcosystems #Conservation #WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #NatureGuardians #NatureStewardship #ProtectRivers #ProtectWatersheds #KeystoneSpecies #ClimateChange #BritishColumbia #WildSalmon #BCSalmon #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #VancouverBC #VolunteerVancouver #VolunteersWanted

  33. #Vancouver folks! Please let your family & friends know about Salmon Day in October! Volunteers are still needed too!

    #WatershedWatch is co-hosting the second annual #SalmonDay on Saturday, October 5 along with #ResilientWaters, #Kwikwetlem #FirstNation, and #UBC's Zachary Sherker from the #PacificSalmonLab. The event will be held next to the community garden at ƛ̓éxətəm #ColonyFarm Regional Park.

    We need #volunteers to help with setup and tear down, manning info booths, supporting exhibitors, and supporting attendees. No prior experience is necessary, we will get you up to speed at the event!

    The event runs from 11 am - 3 pm. Snacks and drinks will be provided for volunteers.

    #Carpooling from Coquitlam Central Station can be arranged. Pickup from the skytrain will be at 9 am. Email [email protected] to coordinate.

    Questions? Email [email protected]

    Note: Volunteer RSVP window closes on Thursday, October 3 but if there is still space and you want to attend, please send Meghan an email!

    #YVR #Environmental #ecological #nature #WildSalmonAlliance #WildFirst #BCWatersheds #SaveWildSalmon #ProtectHabitats #ProtectNature #SaveEcosystems #Conservation #WaterIsLife #WaterProtectors #NatureGuardians #NatureStewardship #ProtectRivers #ProtectWatersheds #KeystoneSpecies #ClimateChange #BritishColumbia #WildSalmon #BCSalmon #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #VancouverBC #VolunteerVancouver #VolunteersWanted

  34. Where do we go from here?

    Unlike the Cowichan River, the #Koksilah is an uncontrolled #river with no storage and as such, there are limited options available to manage flows. The only options available to us are to change our current practices around #LandUse and #WaterUse. Most importantly, the #KoksilahRiver is challenging all of us to work together to collaboratively identify and implement solutions that will impact us all. New collaborations and partnerships are emerging.

    An informal “Koksilah #DroughtManagement team” has been formed to discuss how to collaboratively make short term in-season decisions and work with water users to navigate periods of low flow. This ad-hoc group is comprised of representatives from #FLNRORD, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Cowichan Station’s Koksilah Working Group, BC Dairy Association, BC Agriculture Council, Cowichan Watershed Board, Farmland Advantage, Water Survey of Canada, Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and private forestry representatives.

    In the longer term, an innovative government to government partnership has been struck between Cowichan Tribes and the FNLRORD to explore and scope the feasibility of initiating a joint #WaterSustainability Planning process, an innovative new tool under #BCWaterSustainabilityAct (2016).

    For more information about the potential of Water Sustainability Plans, see Curran, D. and O.M. Brandes. 2019 Water Sustainability Plans: Potential, Options and Essential Content (2019) by Deborah Curran and Oliver M. Brandes, University of Victoria Environmental Law Centre and the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance.

    poliswaterproject.org/polis-re

    "As one element in the modernized provincial water regime, Water Sustainability Plans are a promising tool that can enable and enhance adaptive water management and new governance relationships that express core elements of government-to-government relationships for water and watersheds, as well as address the challenges of environmental flows, sustainable groundwater management, drought planning and protecting and enhancing watershed health."

    Deborah Curran & Oliver M. Brandes
    Water Sustainability Plans: Potential, Options and Essential Content (2019)

    #BackroadAdventures #VancouverIsland #water #river #Shawnigan #DayAdventure #DayTrip #PacificNorthwest #ProtectWatersheds #nature #VanIsle #Cascadia #PNW #NaturesPower #WaterIsLife #ProtectWatersheds #ProtectNature #Hydro #RiversOfBC #RiversOfVancouverIsland #Indigenous #FirstNations #Historical #Cowichan #WaterFlow #RiverFlows #HydrologyManagement

  35. Half of all #eelgrass in #CascoBay has died within last four years, experts say

    Eelgrass, according to Friends of Casco Bay, is home to juvenile lobster and fish. Without eelgrass, much of Maine's seafood economy loses its base, they said.

    By Jack Molmud
    March 29, 2023

    SOUTH PORTLAND, #Maine — According to a report from Friends of Casco Bay, 54 percent of all eelgrass meadows in Casco Bay have died off since 2018.

    "This comes as the 2022 to 2023 winter saw water temps reach four degrees above average.

    "'My first response was it's heartbreaking,' Will Everitt, the executive director of Friends of Casco Bay said. 'My second response was now is the time we have to do more than ever to protect the bay.'

    "Everitt said eelgrass is dying due to a combination of consequences from the warm water.

    "Warm water attracts more invasive #GreenCrabs, which cut the eelgrass and eat softshell crabs, he said. This disturbs the naturally-occurring species, he said.

    "'When we have a really cold winter it can kill back the green crabs,' Everitt said.

    "He added a warm winter won't kill as many green crabs, allowing them to reproduce and spawn more green crabs for summer and fall.

    "'The loss of this is tragic and could have a huge impact on our coastal waters,' Everitt said.

    "Everitt added the #WarmingOceans in Maine also result in more frequent #AlgaeBlooms, which prevent the eelgrass from accessing proper sunlight to grow.

    "Fewer eelgrass meadows mean fewer lobsters in inshore waters, he added.

    "'A number of critters in the bay depend on this... the warming waters are going to do a number on this if it continues,' Everitt said.

    "If the situation continues to worsen, Everitt suggested experts would recommend planting eelgrass from more southern states so that subspecies can handle the warmer temperatures Maine is set to experience."

    newscentermaine.com/article/te

    #FriendsOfCascoBay #SaltMarshes #SaveTheWetlands #EelGrass #SaveTheWetlands
    #SaveTheMarshes #ProtectNature #NewEngland #GulfOfMaine

  36. #MonochromeMonday

    They keep killing the ancients.
    Men who kill elder trees, are men who kill their children's futures.
    Souls must be disconnected from nature & their spirits desperate for money, for them to be OK destroying #OldGrowth forests, for a temporary paycheque.
    There are more ethical ways to earn a living.
    Stop believing industrial & government #greenwashing lies.
    #ClearcutLogging kills #ecosystems & throws #ecological balance out of whack.

    Government tells us to not fret, that they're managing #forestry better - they're #greedy, #sellout #LIARS. You can go see for yourself, how many clearcuts are still happening on big scales, at several places across Vancouver Island & some parts of BC interior where greedy corporations are decimating the last inland #TemperateRainforest in the world. Our #neoliberal BC NDP government is OK with ongoing mass ecocide - they get money from industry lobbyists 🤑🤮😡

    Don't stop, fighting to #ProtectOldGrowth #forests 🌲❤️🌲 #AncientTrees need #ForestDefenders in times of increased, rampant #CorporateGreed & sellout #ecocide enabling governments ✊️

    #BCNewDeathParty #BCpoli #SaveOldGrowth #DefendNature #TreesOverGreed #TreesAreEarthsLungs #Nature #ProtectNature #WildFirst #BCForestryReform #deforestation #StopEcocide #StopClearcuts #photography #BanCorporateLobbyists #DavidEby #BCNDP #EbyTheEnabler #ProtectForests #BCTourism #VancouverIsland #Cowichan #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #PNW #BCgovernment #BCNDPLegacyoOfDeath #StopDeforestation #OneEarth #BritishColumbia #Canada #WorldInMyEyes #YYJphotographers #DisabledPhotographers #Activism #ActivistPhotography #Environmentalist #EcoJustice #FightForNature #NatureGuardians #StopTheSaws #CrimesAgainstHumanity #morose #SuperUnnaturalBC #TourismBC #TourismVanvouverIsland #EcoCrimes #monochrome #BWphotography #BWphoto