A new report from the Basel Action Network warns that the rapid expansion of AI data centers could triple global annual toxic electronic waste over the next 25 years. Data center equipment is designed for replacement every two to five years and contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium, yet no comprehensive disposal plan exists. The report highlights the shift from immediate energy and land concerns to long-term pollution issues, including health impacts from associated power generation. The article also covers related environmental stories: microplastics acting as toxin carriers in European farmland, an SEC proposal to weaken shareholder proposal rules that have been used for climate resolutions, and Google's largest carbon removal deal pairing methane cuts with enhanced rock weathering in Brazil. These updates underscore the growing intersection of tech growth, environmental regulation, and climate finance.
