Coastal erosion in the Outer Banks leads to more homes collapsing into the ocean

A house in Rodanthe, North Carolina, collapsed into the ocean on Friday, highlighting the increasing threat of rising sea levels and erosion caused by climate change.

Kate Selig reports for The New York Times.


In short:

  • Crashing waves from Hurricane Ernesto accelerated the collapse of an already at-risk home in Rodanthe.
  • Rodanthe has lost seven homes to the ocean in the past four years due to erosion and rising sea levels.
  • Officials warn that more homes may collapse as storm conditions persist along the Outer Banks.

Key quote:

"The house just sat down in the surf and floated off."

— Robert Outten, Dare County manager

Why this matters:

Rising sea levels and more intense storms are increasingly threatening coastal communities like Rodanthe. Without viable solutions, more homes and ecosystems could face severe damage.

Related: Another beach house collapses in Rodanthe, NC

Battle ships heading into the sunset

Water, power, and the future of conflict

Explore the rise of water as a geopolitical weapon influencing global security, economics, and environmental stability in 2026.
A view of the Salton Sea with mountains in the background

The clean energy transition at the Salton Sea

California holds vast stores of lithium, but mining projects stir debate over environmental costs and economic benefits.

A worker at a steel plant

Indonesia’s steel expansion risks a surge in greenhouse gas emissions

Indonesia’s steel industry is becoming one of the country’s fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, even as it receives far less public attention than other carbon-intensive sectors.

An oil pump jack in a dry field

New Mexico again debates greenhouse gas reductions as snow melts

Lawmakers table bill to expand the use of oilfield wastewater and shoot down another that would restrict drone use around “critical” infrastructure.

A gray warehouse type building on a brown field on a sunny day

Data centers are scrambling to power the AI boom with natural gas

As tech giants find creative ways to generate electricity, they’re building a glut of new fossil fuel projects.
U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan speaking at the 2015 Defending the American Dream Summit
Credit: Gage Skidmore/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/

Federal Judicial Center pulls climate change chapter from official manual for U.S. judges

The “Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence” — updated for the first time in 15 years — eliminates some 90 pages about climate science and comes just as numerous climate cases make their way through state and federal courts.
US Supreme Court roof and pillars in evening sun and shadow.

Trump EPA to take its biggest swing yet against climate change rules

With its plans to revoke the endangerment finding, the administration is gambling that the U.S. Supreme Court will allow it to completely avoid regulating the nation’s top greenhouse gas sources.

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.