Global Scans · Pollution · Weekly Summary

• [New] By late 2027, 80% of AI data centers will report resource consumption metrics such as water use and pollution, setting new expectations for environmental accountability and community impact. IDC
• [New] Current levels of 'forever chemicals' pollution could cost the EU approximately €440 billion by 2050. Environment
• [New] Plastic pollution could double its harm to human health in the coming decades if current production trends continue. Deutsche Welle
• [New] The pollution levy should start at $17 a tonne of carbon dioxide, rising until it is linked to the European Union carbon price in 2034. The Guardian
• [New] Human health will no longer be factored into US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cost-benefit calculations of air pollution. The BMJ
• [New] Training Disruption: The peak training season in India coincides with severe pollution, forcing indoor shifts or relocations. PMF IAS
• [New] Air pollution is consistently identified as one of the leading risk factors for death worldwide, contributing to millions of premature deaths each year through cardiovascular and respiratory disease. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Without action, plastic use in the U.S. is projected to more than double by 2060, driving waste generation and pollution to even higher levels. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] As air pollution is a real, systemic risk connected to climate change, nature loss and human rights, addressing it is fundamental to protecting people and planet and building lasting value across portfolios. ShareAction
• [New] New filtration technology developed by Rice University may absorb some Pfas forever chemicals at 100 times the rate previously possible, which could dramatically improve pollution control and speed remediations. The Guardian
• [New] The Environmental Protection Agency will stop considering how many deaths are prevented and how much money is saved in health care costs when considering air pollution rules for two common pollutants, a change that advocates say will compound health risks in Detroit. BridgeDetroit
• [New] Environmental experts say the EPA's new approach could influence tailpipe emissions rules, updates to air quality standards for specific pollutants, power sources used by massive data centers - and increase pollution levels in Detroit, which already fails to meet federal standards. BridgeDetroit
• [New] The dugong, already considered vulnerable to extinction, is critically endangered in many parts of the world, threatened by habitat loss, climate breakdown, noise, boat strikes, and water and plastic pollution. The Guardian

Last updated: 02 February 2026