Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Plastics companies blocked mitigation efforts and may have broken US laws – study

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:00:23 +0000

Paper outlines different legal theories that could help governments pursue accountability for harms

Companies have spent decades obstructing efforts to take on the plastics crisis and may have breached a host of US laws, a new report argues.

The research from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) details the widespread burdens that plastic pollution places on US cities and states, and argues that plastic producers may be breaking public-nuisance, product-liability and consumer-protection laws.

NSW government accused by critics of using ‘fatally compromised’ emissions report

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:00:22 +0000

Climate campaigners and scientists disturbed over claims about global warming found in document obtained through Gipa laws

Lawyers could charge big oil with homicide after 2023 Arizona heatwave

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 14:00:20 +0000

Charges are reasonable after July 2023 extreme weather event, prosecutors write in new memorandum

Prosecutors in Arizona could reasonably press homicide charges against big oil for deaths caused by a July 2023 heatwave, lawyers wrote in a new prosecution memorandum.

“[T]he case for prosecuting fossil fuel companies for climate-related deaths is strong enough to merit the initiation of investigations by state and local prosecutors,” the document says.

Why pregnant people are more at risk during heatwaves – and ways to stay safe

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 13:00:18 +0000

As temperatures broil the US, experts share how to mitigate increased chances of heat illness and heatstroke

‘Otters pop up beside your kayak’: six coast fanatics reveal their favourite UK beaches

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:17 +0000

We asked a naturalist, a writer, a champion surfer, a walker, a forager and a yoga teacher to tell us what makes the seaside so special

Read more in this series

Steve Backshall – Sandaig Bay, Scotland

Air freight greenhouse gas emissions up 25% since 2019, analysis finds

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:16 +0000

Boom in air cargo due to shoppers’ expectations of speedy delivery and shift in post-pandemic economy, researchers say

Air freight operators have increased their greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared with 2019, analysis has found.

In 2023, air freight operators ran about 300,000 more flights than in 2019, an increase in flight volume of almost 30%. The US accounted for more than 40% of global air freight emissions, according to the report by campaign group Stand.earth.

German activists take government to court over climate policy

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:24:52 +0000

New law is too weak and has been made harder to enforce, while transport ministry has not taken sufficient action, groups say

German climate activists are taking the government to court for “unconstitutional” climate policy, seeking to build on a landmark victory three years ago that they had hoped would force Europe’s biggest polluter to clean up quickly.

Women exposed to ‘forever chemicals’ may risk shorter breastfeeding duration

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:00:17 +0000

Higher PFAS exposure could cause lactation to slow or stop altogether within six months, new research finds

Women exposed to toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” prior to pregnancy face an elevated risk of being unable to breastfeed early, new research finds.

The study tracked lactation durations for over 800 new moms in New Hampshire and found higher PFAS exposure could cause lactation to slow or stop altogether within six months.

‘Reform or go out of business,’ carbon offsetting industry told

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:13 +0000

Study finds carbon credits could raise billions for climate action but only with changes, such as rigorous standards

The carbon-credit market must reform or “go out of business”, leading scientists have concluded in an international review of the offsetting industry.

The market for carbon offsets shrank dramatically last year after a series of scientific and media reports found many offsetting schemes had little environmental impact.

Lake District sewage campaigners launch nuisance complaint in legal first

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:43:32 +0000

Statutory nuisance complaint lodged by Save Windermere against United Utilities is a first over sewage pollution

Campaigners fighting to stop sewage discharges into Windermere, the Lake District’s largest lake, have made a statutory nuisance complaint against a water company in the first legal action of its kind.