Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Cop29: ‘We’re here for life and death reasons,’ says ex-climate minister of Pakistan

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:00:15 +0000

Sherry Rehman says rich nations should pay ‘internationally determined contributions’ to help poorer and worst-affected countries

Amid the endless politicking and inscrutable arguments at the UN climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, this month, it can be hard to remember what is at stake. That’s why Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s former climate change minister, is calling on global leaders to “keep an eye on the big picture”.

“We’re here for life and death reasons,” Rehman said.

Bee alert: Pesticides pose a real threat to over 70% of wild bees

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:52:23 +0000

A new study reveals alarming risks that pesticides pose to ground-nesting bees, which are crucial for pollination and food production. As agriculture increasingly relies on pesticides to protect crops, the unintended consequences for these essential pollinators are becoming clearer.

Cop29 delegates told to ‘cut the theatrics’ and tackle climate crisis

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:21:55 +0000

UN climate chief addresses climate summit with no agreement in sight on how to help developing countries

Countries meeting in Azerbaijan to discuss a new global financial settlement for tackling the climate crisis must “cut the theatrics” and get down to serious business, the UN has said.

Countries could use nature to ‘cheat’ on net zero targets, scientists warn

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:00:12 +0000

By relying on natural carbon sinks such as forests and peatlands to offset emissions, governments can appear closer to goals than they actually are

Relying on natural carbon sinks such as forests and oceans to offset continued fossil fuel emissions will not stop global heating, the scientists who developed net zero have warned.

How Trump 2.0 might affect the wildfire crisis: ‘The harms will be more lasting’

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 16:00:11 +0000

As the US grapples with smoky skies, Trump is solidifying an anti-science agenda – here are the challenges ahead

In the days that followed Donald Trump’s election win, flames roared through southern California neighborhoods. On the other side of the country, wildfire smoke clouded the skies in New York and New Jersey.

They were haunting reminders of a stark reality: while Trump prepares to take office for a second term, the complicated, and escalating, wildfire crisis will be waiting.

Pollution in Delhi hits record high, cloaking city in smog

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:49:20 +0000

Indian capital imposes emergency measures including closing schools and offices and barring heavy vehicles

Pollution levels in India’s capital, Delhi, have soared to their highest levels this year, forcing schools and offices to close and cloaking the city in thick brown smog.

In some parts of the city, a live air quality ranking by IQAir put pollution levels at more than 30 times the maximum level deemed healthy.

Cop29: US Democrats put on brave face as Republicans talk up cheap energy

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:00:36 +0000

US climate envoy says Trump won’t derail progress as GOP argues for increasing oil and gas production at UN talks

Throughout the UN climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, in recent days, US officials have maintained a studiously sunny disposition, saying that the Republican president-elect, Donald Trump, will not derail climate progress.

Thames Water’s IT ‘falling apart’ and is hit by cyber-attacks, sources claim

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:33:33 +0000

Exclusive: Company relies on obsolete tech and there are troubling security gaps, Guardian investigation suggests

A kookaburra: ‘They think they are waking the world’

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:00:35 +0000

A kingfisher with a long, dagger-shaped beak. Soft white feathers on its belly, iridescent blue opal spots on its wings

I walked out of my kitchen on an overcast morning last week, feeling depressed, trying to think my way around the US election result somehow towards acceptance – or a totally different reality.

Yorkshire town may bring first ‘forever chemicals’ legal case in UK

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:00:23 +0000

Residents claim contamination from Angus Fire factory has left them trapped and unable to sell their homes

Residents in the UK town with the country’s highest identified concentration of “forever chemicals” have instructed lawyers to investigate the possibility of a first-of-its-kind legal claim against the firefighting foam manufacturer located in the centre of Bentham.