This is Eco Report for September 4th, 2026.
In the latest episode of Grow with Glo on Youth Radio, host Gloria Chi talks with Carol Rhodes, the founder and treasurer of Artists for Climate Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to climate communication via art. The organization works with artists, scientists, teachers, and nonprofit partners to host art shows, workshops, and public events that bring attention to environmental issues.
Drought deepens across Puerto Rico and the U.S. West
(Photo courtesy of LA Times).
Weather changes continue alter landscapes across the United States and other regions of the world as dry temperatures cause drought and other problems related to the lack of water.
In Puerto Rico, as of August 26th news reports, more than 63 percent of the island is under drought or severe drought conditions. An estimated 500,000 individuals in 180,000 households are experiencing water scarcity, with water rationing for 48 hours on a rotating schedule the only way they are receiving any water from city. Puerto Rico’s governor Jenniffer Gonzalez declared it an emergency in late July, 2026, with the United States National Guard bringing in emergency water and water purifying sources. Livestock is being sold off in Puerto Rico, and crops in south and southwest of the island are failing, loans are being offered to farmers, and the reserve water reservior Lago Carraizo is being depleted.
Meanwhile, drought continues in the middle states of United States, causing more wildfire conditions and depleted water sources. In the west, Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at their lowest levels since seventy years ago, with Lake Powell only a quarter full and Lake Mead down to 20 feet. On August 22, the U.S. Bureau of Reclaimation announced their 10 year plan to cut water to Arizona, California, and Nevada by 1.25 million feet annually, while the existing rules for the reservoirs expire in October, 2026.
Water will quickly become a very precious resource in these changing times.
Clymers residents push back against carbon capture project
The Andersons ethanol plant and grain elevator in Clymers, Indiana, on 7 July 2026 (Photo courtesy of the Guardian).
A local ethanol plant proposes burying large amounts of carbon beneath Clymers, Indiana, which is supported by substantial federal subsidies.
Some locals, including Melissa Harrison, fear the project threatens the town’s safety, identity, and long-term viability. The community already faces hazards from nearby agricultural and industrial facilities, including contaminated wells, lack of sewage infrastructure, and poverty.
International climate monitors view carbon sequestration as a secondary tool; environmental groups warn it may delay fossil-fuel reductions and pose risks to communities.
Generous subsidies have triggered a surge of similar projects across the U.S., increasing tensions in rural areas. Once a thriving town with stores, a church, and a school, Clymers now struggles with closures, demolished landmarks, and deteriorating public spaces.
Residents like Harrison emphasize deep generational ties to the land and losing their community identity.
This is the consequences of using oil, gas and coal, which is very dirty and has a lot of leftover waste, instead of wind and solar energy, which is clean.
Garden pest control options and their risks
By Julianna Dailey
If you are a gardener, like many people, you probably try to figure out how to control the pests that damage your plants. The most common pests are flies and mosquitoes, but you also get cockroaches, ants, silverfish, fleas, bedbugs, aphids, scales, beetles, caterpillars, wasps, ticks, and crop-destroying insects.
One choice is biopesticides and biological controls. These break down quickly in the environment and they work slower and are pest-specific. Boric-acid and silica-based treatments are one of the oldest pest control tools still used today. They are effective and low-risk, plus they are not toxic when touched.
Botanical and natural pesticides contain pyrethrins, which come from chrysanthemum flowers. Since it is plant-based, it surprises people because it sounds harmless, but they are fastacting nerve toxins to insects. Since this method breaks down quickly, you will have to reapply it frequently. Just be careful, they can cause nausea, vomiting, tremors and seizures if swallowed.
Synthetic pyrethroids are lab-generated but last longer than natural pyrethrins. They are still toxic, especially to pets and fish, if you have a garden pond.
Neonicotinoids target the nervous system of most insects. They are effective at low doses and are less harmful to humans and pets. However, they do harm waterways and pollinators, like bees.
The other option is to hire a professional.
Since all of these options target insects, what can be done about raccoons, groundhogs and skunks?
Plastic pollution threatens ocean wildlife
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) with a plastic bag, Moore Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The bag was removed by the photographer before the turtle had a chance to eat it.
I know we harp about plastic on this show a lot, but IT is a real problem we need to figure out or we will lose many wildlife species and maybe, ourselves. Plastic pollution is one of the deadliest threats facing marine life. Every minute, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean. More than 1,300 marine species have been reported to ingest plastic. In a single year, an estimated 35 million metric tons of plastic entered our aquatic ecosystems. This sounds like a lot, but it is getting worse.
We have science-based solutions that are trying to stop plastic pollution at every stage. We have organizations that are measuring how plastic ingestion and entanglement harm marine animals; identifying the most dangerous plastics and most vulnerable species; and developing global tools to assess risk and guide action.
We need to figure out how to stop plastic before it reaches the ocean, by tracking how trash moves through rivers and waterways; preventing microplastic like tire particles from entering waterways; and improving waste systems in high-impact communities.
Plus, we need to turn science into action. Let’s build the world’s largest datasets on ocean plastics; and inform policies that reduce plastic production at the source; and drive solutions that protect both wildlife and coastal communities.
The science is clear, the threat is urgent, and the solutions are in motion. A healthy ocean means more than beautiful coasts and awe-inspiring wildlife. If the ocean isn’t healthy, neither are we. It is in our best interest to do everything we can to protect the ocean, its wildlife and everyone who depends on it. That means YOU!
Now, let’s listen to Gloria Chi as she talks with Carol Rhodes, the founder and treasurer of Artists for Climate Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to climate communication through art.
Take a Forestry Foray at Winslow Woods Park on Saturday, September 5th, from 1 to 3 pm. Become a forester for a day and learn skills to help you study and protect our forest ecosystems. Sign up at Bloomington.IN.gov/parks.
A program called Keep Calm And Carrion is scheduled for Saturday, September 5th, from 2 to 2:30 pm at McCormick’s Creek State Park. Meet in the Nature Center to learn the wonders of turkey vultures and make your very own turkey vulture “puke.”
There will be a Fossil Discover and Geology Hike at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Monday, September 7th, from 2 to 3 pm. Hike Trail 3, which is rugged to scramble through rocks to learn about fossils and how the canyon was formed.
A Simple Seed Saving for Vegetables program is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Willie Streeter Community Gardens. Learn how to save vegetable seeds for next years garden. Sign up at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.
A Trees From Seed presentation is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th, from 3 to 4 pm at Brown County State Park. This is an informative session with Ray Major, who leads the “Trees From Seed” social media movement. Learn how to grow trees from seed followed by a hike.
This week’s headlines were written by Stephanie Stewart, Rich Benak, and Julianna Dailey.
Today’s news feature was produced by Gloria Chi
Julianna Dailey assembled the script which was edited by the EcoReport team and produced the upcoming events.
Kade Young is our engineer.
Anchors are Julianna Dailey and Stephanie Stewart.
