At a Glance Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that a global demand for freshwater will increase by more than 40 percent by 2050.At least a quarter of the world's population is expected to live in countries that have a chronic or recurrent lack of clean water. Officials say strain on water access is already rising in all regions.Guterres said the United Nations is ready to engage in preventive diplomacy to keep the competition for water from sparking conflicts. By 2050,...

A power plant on Missouri side of Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois. (Denise Panyik-Dale/Getty Images) At a Glance Factories that produce air pollution, along with soot and heavy metals, tend to be built near downwind borders.Local and state politics play a role.In choosing a site, corporations want to find locations where they will get less political blowback, study notes. Toxic, air-polluting factories have been systematically builtat state borders so neighboring downwind states receive the brunt of the pollution, a recent...

Dominion Energy's 564-mile Atlantic Coast pipeline would come through this area of the Shenandoah Valley in Augusta County, Virginia. (The Washington Post via Getty Images) At a Glance Your Energy Virginiatouts itself as a grassroots organization.It is funded by the American Gas Association and other 'related organizations.' Thegas industry has launched a fake "grassroots" organization to funnel its message to Virginia residentsahead of a key November gubernatorialelection. Launched in April,touts itself as a grassroots organizationbutis funded by the American Gas...