Breaking Waves: Ocean News

‘A horror movie’: sharks and octopuses among 200 species killed by toxic algae off South Australia

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 15:00:16 +0000

Karenia mikimotoi algae can suffocate fish, cause haemorrhaging and act as a neurotoxin, one expert says

Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as an email

More than 200 marine species, including deepwater sharks, leafy sea dragons and octopuses, have been killed by a toxic algal bloom that has been affecting South Australia’s coastline since March.

To the new environment minister, Murray Watt: it’s time to get reforms right | Lyndon Schneiders

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 15:00:14 +0000

Long-term reform is not going to be easy, but we have now wasted 15 years and everyone has lost, especially the natural world

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Long overdue reform of national environment laws is unfinished business for the 48th parliament and the re-elected Albanese government.

Cobalt firm taps in to electric car boom with £174m London stock market float

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 14:54:44 +0000

Cobalt Holdings aims to buy up supply of the metal from Glencore as slowing EV growth has pushed down prices

A cobalt trading company has said it will raise £174m in rare a stock market float in London, in a bet on demand for car batteries that defies investor nerves around the growth in electric cars.

Helping birds and floating solar energy coexist

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 14:52:04 +0000

How might floating solar energy projects impact wild birds and vice versa? A paper outlines key considerations for a growing floating solar industry.

UK windfall tax can fund switch to green jobs for North Sea oil workers – report

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:00:11 +0000

Exclusive: Campaigners call for energy profits levy to be made permanent to enable ‘just transition’ from fossil fuels

Making permanent the UK’s windfall tax on oil and gas producers would generate enough cash to enable North Sea workers to move to green jobs, research has found.

Cutting current subsidies to fossil fuel producers would free up yet more funds to spend on the shift to a low-carbon economy, according to the report.

Nature group threatens judicial review against Labour’s planning bill

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 08:35:44 +0000

Wild Justice says bill would reduce environmental protections and calls on Angela Rayner to correct statement saying it will not

A legal campaign group is planning a judicial review against the UK government’s new planning bill, arguing it will result in a weakening of environmental protections which were fought for and created over decades.

Climate crisis threatens the banana, the world’s most popular fruit, research shows

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 06:00:46 +0000

Fourth most important food crop in peril as Latin America and Caribbean suffer from slow-onset climate disaster

The climate crisis is threatening the future of the world’s most popular fruit, as almost two-thirds of banana-growing areas in Latin America and the Caribbean may no longer be suitable for growing the fruit by 2080, new research has found.

MPs should not accept any murky answers from Thames Water chair on potential sale | Nils Pratley

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 04:00:44 +0000

Sir Adrian Montague’s appearance on Tuesday offers perhaps the last chance to scrutinise utility’s dealings

Potential role for Chinese firm in key UK windfarm attracts government scrutiny

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 04:00:42 +0000

Exclusive: Decision on whether to work with turbine maker being overseen by ministers after British Steel rescue

Ministers are weighing up proposals for a Chinese company to supply wind turbines for a major offshore windfarm in the North Sea.

Less than 1% of UK biosecurity budget goes on tackling invasive species, figures show

admin — Sun, 11 May 2025 23:01:36 +0000

Conservationists call for more funding and warn of danger to ‘cherished’ native species, from water voles to ladybirds

Less than 1% of the government’s biosecurity budget goes on tackling invasive species, despite the danger they pose to British wildlife, figures suggest.

Conservationists warned the funding to address non-native plants and animals was failing to match the risk they posed to “cherished” native species, from water voles to ladybirds, as well as to waterways, homes, businesses and local green spaces.