Another beach house collapses in Rodanthe, NC

A home in Rodanthe, N.C., has collapsed into the sea due to severe coastal erosion and rising sea levels, marking the sixth such incident in the past four years.

Brady Dennis reports for The Washington Post.


In short:

  • An unoccupied home at 24131 Ocean Drive in Rodanthe collapsed around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
  • Officials closed a one-mile stretch of beach to clean up debris, which poses hazards to the public.
  • Rising sea levels and erosion have led to a rapid loss of homes along this part of the Outer Banks.

Key quote:

“Another one bit the dust. This situation will continue"

— David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Why this matters:

As waves chip away at the shoreline and tides inch higher, residents and officials face mounting pressure to adapt. For families and homeowners, it’s a stark reminder of the personal and financial stakes tied to environmental shifts. The convergence of natural forces and human settlement patterns is becoming an ever more pressing issue for policy makers, scientists, and advocates alike.

Offshore wind turbines with beachgoers in foreground
Photo by Junliang Deng on Unsplash

Federal judge finds Trump’s halt on wind energy is illegal

The president ordered a stop to permits for all wind farms on federal lands and waters. A judge called that “capricious.”
Coral reef and associated marine life
Photo by Shaun Low on Unsplash

Caribbean reefs have lost 48% of hard coral since 1980, study finds

‘Destructive’ marine heatwaves are driving the loss of microalgae that feed coral, says Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

 United Nations logo at the UN headquarter in New York City

Climate complacency is a worry, says UN environment head

Trillions of dollars could be gained every year and millions of lives saved from protecting the climate and environment, according to the UN. DW speaks to Inger Andersen about what might help us get there.
A large egg sculpture with a hole in the middle showing two hands with fingers touching, sitting on top of a metal pole.
Crédito: Matthew TenBruggencate/Unsplash

UN says world must jointly tackle issues of climate change, pollution, biodiversity and land loss

The United Nations says the world needs a new way of thinking about environmental crises threatening the health of people and the planet.
data center construction
Credit: MaxSafaniuk/BigStock Photo ID: 438562529

States push to end secrecy over data center water use

The effort is drawing bipartisan support and is expected to come up again next year as officials grapple with the artificial intelligence boom’s side effects.

Indigenous protests during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. "Without Climate Justice, there are no indigenous rights. Without the forest, there is no future."

‘It’s not safe to live here.’ Colombia is deadliest country for environmental defenders

Jani Silva is a renowned environmental activist in Colombia’s Amazon, but she has been unable to live in her house for nearly a decade.
A man working on wires on a data server

Data centers for AI could nearly triple San Jose’s energy use. Who foots the bill?

AI’s planned data-center boom is straining California’s grid forecasts and raising fears that customers could pay for upgrades if projects never materialize.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.