Climate & Biodiversity News (June 2026)

Hill at Sims, Houston, Texas. Designed by SWA

By Jared Green

The Netherlands vs the Sea: The Race to Hold Back Rising Waters, CNN, June 12
"It's not a contradiction between nature-based or technical solutions, but letting technical innovations work together with the natural system. That's the way forward, we think," said Co Verdaas, Commissioner of the Delta Program, The Netherland's national water defense effort. The Dutch are now using "natural tides and sediment to strengthen the coastline, by allowing sand, mud, and silt carried by the sea to settle in targeted areas." The goal is to build up and protect shorelines in order to reduce pressure on dikes and storm-surge barriers.

What's Driving up Your Expenses? Many Americans Say Climate Change, Grist, June 12
A recent study found that U.S. families were paying $400-$900 more each year because of climate change. In the communities most impacted by climate change - countries in Florida, Louisiana, Nebraska, Colorado, and California - costs can be up to $1,300 higher per year. Rising electricity prices account for just a small portion of the increase. The vast majority is due to rising home insurance costs.

Solar Generates More Energy in US Than Coal for First Time, The Guardian, June 11
Solar power now generates 12.8 percent of the country's electricity, compared to 12.2 percent for coal. Global growth in renewables continues at a rapid pace. The International Energy Agency estimated renewables are on track to generate 45% of electricity by 2030.

SWA's Houston Studio Completes Hill at Sims, a New Park, The Architect's Newspaper, June 10
"This park...shows cities across the country that flood infrastructure and high-quality civic green space don't have to be separate investments," said Matt Baumgarten and Michael Robinson, ASLA, principals of SWA in Houston. According to The Architect's Newspaper, Hill at Sims in Houston, Texas is both a public space and stormwater detention facility. The park provides 100 acres of recreational space while storing 325 million gallons of stormwater. A new pedestrian bridge connects the park to Sims Bayou Greenway, another SWA project.

Study Warns Biodiversity Loss Could Trigger Wave of Debt Crises, Reuters, June 5
In the journal Nature, researchers from the University of Sussex, University of Sheffield, and University of Heriot-Watt contend that financial markets are failing to account for the risks of environmental degradation. With biodiversity loss, countries will see the value of natural resources decline and, as a result, see their credit ratings drop and debt interest rates increase. The researchers found that even a partial loss of key ecosystem services like marine fisheries or crop pollination could cut global GDP by $2 trillion a year. And a "partial collapse of key ecosystems could increase annual global ⁠sovereign debt interest payments by $162 billion."

Energy, Water Use, and Pollution of AI and Data Centers Rival Most Countries, AP News, June 3
According to a new report from the United Nations University, data centers worldwide used 448 trillion watt-hours of electricity in 2025. If data centers were a country, they would rank 11th in the world. Last year, data centers also released 208 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equal to Argentina, and consumed 1.2 trillion gallons of water. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving the rapid increase in energy and water use: approximately 20 percent of data center energy use is currently from AI and that is expected to grow to 40 percent within the next five years. Data center energy and water use is expected to double by 2030.

The Next Battle Over AI Isn't About Algorithms-It's About Land, Architect, June 3
Ed Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, suggests transforming aging and decommissioned fossil fuel power plants into hubs for data centers. "Capitalize on the existing electrical substations, high-capacity transmission lines, long-haul fiber networks, and industrial water access already present at these sites, saving millions of dollars." He provides planning guidelines and a checklist to help developers and communities find suitable sites.