Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Outdoor clothing brands still using ‘forever chemicals’ despite health risk

admin — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:59:54 +0000

Campaigners find PFAS, which can contaminate the soil and water supply, in more than 80% of 27 companies’ products

Hikers may be inadvertently damaging the environment and risking their own health by wearing clothes made waterproof with “forever chemicals”, according to research by Ethical Consumer.

Wisconsin Republicans block PFAS cleanup until polluters are granted immunity

admin — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:00:18 +0000

GOP-controlled committee thwarting distribution of $125m budgeted by legislature until polluter immunity approved

Wisconsin Republicans are withholding $125m designated for cleanup of widespread PFAS contamination in drinking water and have said they will only release the funds in exchange for immunity for polluters.

The move is part of a broader effort by Republicans in the state to steal power from the Democratic governor, Tony Evers, the funding’s supporters say, alleging such “political games” are putting residents’ health at risk.

Alaska limits cruise ship passengers in capital city after 1.6m visitors last year

admin — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 07:00:14 +0000

Juneau agrees deal with industry body to curtail visits but critics say it does not go far enough to protect quality of life

Alaska’s capital city is to limit the numbers of cruise ship passengers arriving at the port amid concerns over tourism’s growing impact, but a leading critic of the industry has said further measures to protect Alaskans’ quality of life are needed.

Offshore windfarm zone off Illawarra coast given green light in bid to ‘power Australia’s clean energy future’

admin — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 01:31:38 +0000

Zone will be 20km off the coast and exclude areas significant for little penguin and for southern right whale migration

The federal government has given the green light to an offshore windfarm zone south of Sydney, making it Australia’s fourth such zone to be declared.

Announcing the project in the Illawarra on Saturday, the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the move would bring thousands of new jobs and help “power Australia’s clean energy future”.

Heatwave expected to spread to 250m Americans in midwest and north-east

admin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:11:57 +0000

Scorching temperatures have already swept south-east where Florida is now grappling with severe flooding

The scorching heatwave that has swept the US south-east in recent weeks will soon spread to the country’s midwest and north-east regions, affecting nearly 250 million Americans.

Temperatures are stuck at 90F (32C) or above for at least the next week in much of the US, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted. The NWS defines a heatwave as a period of temperatures exceeding 90F for two or more days, and this one could last until 26 June.

Germany’s top climate envoy says ‘this is the critical decade’ after Dutton ditches 2030 target

admin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:00:55 +0000

Representative from Europe’s biggest economy and key player in global climate talks says deep emissions cuts by 2030 ‘essential’ to limit climate heating to 1.5C

Wildlife experts urge action on pesticides as UK insect populations plummet

admin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:00:52 +0000

Campaigners say next government must reduce use and toxicity of pesticides before it is too late

The UK’s insect populations are declining at alarming rates and the next government must put in place plans to monitor and reduce the use and toxicity of pesticides before it is too late, wildlife experts say.

How do you put pigeons on the pill? Scientists test contraceptives to curb pest numbers

admin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:00:46 +0000

Birth control is being trialled as a humane way to limit growing numbers of grey squirrels, pigeons and wild boar

The invention of the contraceptive pill heralded the sexual revolution of the 1960s, and now scientists are looking to revolutionise wildlife control by getting animals in on the action. Trials are under way in the UK and elsewhere in Europe of how to get contraceptives into pigeons, wild boar and grey squirrels, with scientists also proposingother rodents, invasive parakeets and deer as other target species.

Week in wildlife – in pictures: a comedy seal, a cricket-loving owl and hairy pigs on Exmoor

admin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:00:48 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Children near Amsterdam airport use inhalers more, study finds

admin — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:00:42 +0000

Results show increase in symptoms such as wheeziness in presence of high aviation-related ultrafine particles

As the public hearings for London Gatwick airport’s northern runway resume, researchers from the Netherlands have found greater inhaler use in children living near Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.